Technology

Why early lameness detection matters for reproductive performance

arnold.harbers@nedap.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Mildly lame cows, or those just starting to decline, often go unnoticed. This hidden group is where the real losses begin to accumulate, especially when it comes to reproduction.

How computer vision, robotics and AI will quickly transform the dairy industry

cjenkins@standardnutrition.com — Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

AI and robotics will not replace good dairy managers, but they will increasingly reward operations that understand how to integrate data, adopt technology, automate consistently and focus human labor where judgment is crucial.

2026 Nexus Innovation Awards

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Thu, 07 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Progressive Dairy, in collaboration with Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), recently invited each of the following companies on stage during PDP’s Business Conference March 4-5 as winners of Nexus Innovation Awards. Each was deemed an award winner by a panel of dairy producers.

Nexus awards: ‘In-liner everything’ automated teat prep technology now available

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Tue, 05 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

Semiautomated milking technology captured the attention of dairy producers awarding this year’s Nexus Innovation Awards. The new technology from GEA improves upon and brings the fully automated teat preparation common in box-style milking robots to parallel parlors.

[Podcast] Introducing the 2026 Nexus Innovation Award winners

Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This episode introduces you to the 2026 Nexus Innovation Award winners, recently recognized at the Professional Dairy Producers Business Conference.

Nexus awards: Technology tracks calf health via eartag with flashing light indicator

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

SenseHub Dairy Youngstock monitoring technology from Merck Animal Health tracks calves from birth and flashes an indicator light when activity, rumination, eating or other behaviors deviate from the baseline. The same eartag can also continue tracking behaviors throughout the animal’s entire life.

Nexus awards: New bolus helps dry cows off faster, more comfortably

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Administering cows an innovative technology in bolus form at dry-off has been shown to decrease milk production 50% to 60% in the first 24 hours after dry-off. Research on the new product – StopLac from AHV – shows it also doesn’t negatively impact the health of the cow or milk production in her next lactation.

How good dairies become great businesses

tera.baker@nedap.com — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

No two dairies are the same. Facilities vary. Management styles differ. Labor situations shift. Yet across farms that consistently rise from good to great, one common thread emerges.

Turning lameness data into measurable ROI

terry.canning@gea.com — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For decades, hoof health programs relied on routine schedules and human observation. Cows were trimmed at set points in lactation or flagged by employees who noticed visible signs of lameness.

How remote monitoring prevents costly dairy disruptions

ddefusco@sensaphone.com — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Remote monitoring systems help dairy operators keep conditions steady and act on problems before they put cow health or facility performance at risk. They also boost productivity by allowing staff to respond quickly when something changes.

Precision decisions: How AI will shape dairy performance in 2026

mulloago@purdue.edu — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:38:11 -0400

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging in 2026 not as a futuristic concept but as a practical response to the complexity of dairy farming. Its primary value is not automation for its own sake but the ability to improve decisions across thousands of animals and management variables.

[Podcast] Using herd management software with producer Steve Harnish

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this digital age, how are dairy producers making numbers work for them? Host Matti McBride chats with Pennsylvania dairy farmer Steve Harnish in this Progressive Dairy Podcast episode.

Putting data in the driver's seat

katie_raver@rockriverlab.com — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Although it has become commonplace in our standard daily routines, we don’t think about all the ways AI tools are and can be utilized on dairy operations. These powerful tools can not only simplify day-to-day tasks, but they can also help drive decision-making and profitability.

How data integration is unlocking new efficiencies in modern dairy farming

joaquin.azocar@delaval.com — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Integrating different data streams into a unified ecosystem helps transform information into meaningful action. True integration allows dairy producers to analyze, compare and interpret multiple parameters simultaneously, resulting in faster, more informed decisions that enhances cow welfare, efficiency and profitability.

New tractor aims to fill the need for day-to-day use plus high-horsepower fieldwork

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

JCB's new 6000 Series tractor aims to satisfy the needs of farmers looking for machinery with 240 to 330 horsepower.

Tradition meets technology: Building tomorrow’s farm without losing yesterday’s wisdom

ellie@revolutionized.com — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

When innovations are paired with your existing strengths, they turn a solid foundation into a platform for greater productivity, sustainability and long-term success. The following strategies show how to combine time-tested practices with practical technologies to keep your farm moving forward.

Real Producer Exchange Episode 2: Rob and Adrian Diepersloot

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Brothers and business partners Rob and Adrian Diepersloot were the most recent dairy producer guests on the Real Producer Exchange. Read more about their multiple operations in California and Colorado and their consumer-packaged goods company, WonderCow.

Investing in technology: Setting the stage for success

stephanie.plaster@wisc.edu — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Whether you are currently planning to invest in a piece of technology on the farm or are considering it in the next five years, advanced preparation is the key to a positive implementation process and impact to the bottom line. How do you know where to start?

InFocus: Farmers turn to the internet for input purchases and marketing

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

From seed and fertilizer orders to purchasing products and equipment, online business activity is reshaping how U.S. farmers operate. The latest biennial USDA survey shows not only more devices and stronger rural broadband access on farms but also a considerable rise in using the internet to purchase agricultural inputs and conduct marketing activities.

Avoid costly mistakes: How to ensure your ag tech delivers real returns

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Within agriculture, the dairy industry has long been at the forefront of adopting agriculture technology. How can dairies ensure their agricultural technology (ag tech) acquisitions come with real payback on their investment?

Real-world insights: Adapting technology on dairy farms

jenn@agproud.com — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Dairy producers – Jesse Brutscher of DayStar Dairy and Greg Moes of MoDak Dairy Inc. – shared their trials and feats of adapting technology on their respective farms in a panel session during the 2025 Precision Dairy Conference.

How AI experts vs. farmers see the future of dairying

aconnolly@agritechcapital.com — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Farmers should download and learn how to interact with ChatGPT or other AI engines immediately. Learning prompts to interact with these tools are the skills required of future laborers. ChatGPT won’t replace farmers, but producers who know how to effectively use ChatGPT will replace those who don’t.

What can camera technology and artificial intelligence bring to dairies in 2025?

miel.hostens@cornell.edu — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Camera technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are currently being hyped to the dairy industry. Companies selling these technologies promise game-changing outcomes for producers who use them. The reality, though, is more of a mixed bag.

Artificial intelligence detection brings lameness into focus

terry.canning@gea.com — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Many farms underestimate the challenge of identifying lameness, thinking only 5% to 10% of their herd is lame, when in reality, it may be closer to 20% to 25%. That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) detection comes in – spotting signs the human eye might overlook.

Real Producer Exchange Episode 1: Clare Alderink

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A new webinar series from Progressive Dairy debuted this summer, and the manager of a 3,000-cow dairy in Bailey, Michigan, was the featured guest for the first episode. Dairyman Clare Alderink talked about success with new technology as well as some technology failures during his time on the Real Producer Exchange.

Progressive Events: Precision Dairy Conference brings new thoughts on innovation in industry

jenn@agproud.com — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The dairy industry is continually evolving, from the Surge Bucket Milker to rotary parlors and automated milking equipment, from pen and paper records to stall-side cow information. And now, with technology advancing further and more quickly, paired with the onset of artificial intelligence (AI), the industry is tasked with the lofty goal of keeping up.

Milk in motion: Mastering the tempo of parlor performance

craig.walter@vas.com — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Milking parlors are the drumbeat of a dairy – fast-paced, dynamic environments where small changes make a big difference.

The transforming power of technology: Ninnemann Enterprises Inc.

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

For Aaron Ninnemann, his family’s dairy farm is a classic example of a generationally run business whose family members have worked diligently for decades, making a name for themselves within the dairy industry. The Ninnemanns embraced automated milking in a tiestall barn retrofit to keep dairying alongside a growing cash crop operation.

2025 Precision Dairy Conference provides place for real-world discussions on dairy technologies

kimmi@agproud.com — Thu, 22 May 2025 16:29:27 -0400

Cutting-edge dairy technology and its real-life application on dairy operations will be at the forefront during the 2025 Precision Dairy Conference, which will be held June 17-18 in Bloomington, Minnesota. This year’s speaker lineup includes several producer panels, veterinarians sharing their perspective on technology, research and TED-style keynote presentations.

Reproductive road map: Leveraging data as your dairy’s GPS

robert.heintz@vas.com — Fri, 09 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Managing your reproduction program is complex, with many moving parts, but your herd management software can simplify the process. Just as a GPS helps you reach your destination without unnecessary detours, utilizing your herd management software to its fullest potential enables you to achieve your goals without costly missteps or delays.