Progressive Dairy

June 12, 2026 Progressive Dairy digital magazine

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The latest issue of Progressive Dairy magazine is available. To view, make sure you're logged into your agproud.com account. If you do not have access, click "Subscribe" in the top-right corner of agproud.com to add permission to view.

Brickstead Dairy at forefront of industry progress

jenn@agproud.com — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Taking care of the cows, land and people. That statement and its variations are ones heard often across the dairy industry as producers work to establish sustainability practices that meet the needs of their farms and the ever-growing demand from consumers.

The Courage to Evolve: Mothers

hwagner@wagnerfarmswi.com — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

I realize that as you are reading this, Mother’s Day has already passed. Yet, the mothers in our lives deserve far more than just one day of recognition each year.

Just Dropping By: Dads in shining armor

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In my lifetime, I have seen dads come and go. Some who would be classed as knights in shining armor and those who would not.

The Milk House: Confessions of an addict

ryandennis@themilkhouse.org — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

My wife sometimes asks why I keep ordering wings where we live, even if I know they won’t be good. In the end, I believe it’s a way to explain to myself where I come from and how that place has shaped me.

USDA feed supply, price forecasts remain stagnant

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:40:25 -0400

USDA’s June WASDE raised 2026 milk production to 236.4 billion pounds on expectations of a larger cow herd and an increase in milk output per cow.

U.S. dairy exports soar in April

jenn@agproud.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:28:59 -0400

April was another record-breaking month for U.S. dairy product exports, with cheese setting a new monthly record, and butterfat, nonfat dry milk/skim milk powder (NDM/SMP) and low-protein whey all continuing their respective growth streaks.

QualiTru Sampling Systems launches customized food safety and quality training program for commercial dairy industry

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:50:44 -0400

QualiTru Sampling Systems (formerly known as QMI), leaders in the science of aseptic and representative sampling equipment for the liquid food and dairy industries, is introducing a new Technical Services Educational Training (TSET) Program.

[Podcast] Changing the Rules of Pre-Fresh Dairy Cows

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Dr. Blaine Ellison, owner of Applied Biotechnologies Inc., details the uses of a new product QFA.

Future-proofing the herd: Rethinking calf care

twood@lallemand.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Faced with higher milk replacer costs, it can be tempting to trim milk replacer rates or step calves down sooner. But the first 60 days of life are not the place to cut corners.

Progressive Publishing hires Lauren Wangsness as summer editorial intern

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:31:17 -0400

Progressive Publishing welcomes Lauren Wangsness as a summer editorial intern for Progressive Dairy. Wangsness will work on various video projects and support the editorial team throughout the summer.

Golden years for the herd: Why robots are an older cow's best friend

aproctor@lely.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The capabilities of today’s automated milking systems to provide an ideal milking for an individual cow make them an excellent tool to enable those more senior members of the herd to meet their genetic potential. Here are four reasons milking robots are a great option for older cows.

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy as a supportive tool for mastitis

jason@mv-pemf.com — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

PEMF uses low-frequency electromagnetic pulses to interact with tissue. In dairy applications, PEMF should be viewed as a supportive, non-invasive tool. Its role is to support the biological environment in which healing occurs, especially when inflammation and poor circulation become limiting factors.

The overtime deduction and agriculture: Clearing up the confusion

bodell@frazerllp.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

News of a new federal overtime tax deduction has created confusion across the agricultural sector. While the deduction has been promoted as a form of relief related to overtime pay, it does not provide a meaningful benefit to employers – and it does not apply to agricultural employees at all under current federal law.

Weekly Digest: More U.S. cases of New World screwworm confirmed, Canada restricts imports

karen@agproud.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 16:32:45 -0400

In the news related to dairy farming the second week of June 2026: More U.S. cases of New World screwworm were confirmed and Canada restricts imports, FARM Biosecurity celebrates updated Secure Milk Supply Plan and producer resources, and three Midwest farms earn 2025 High Production Herd Award.

Using the tools available to manage mastitis in automated milking systems

john@cow-corner.co — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

We can categorize automated milking system data into tools for detecting new infections in individual cows and tools for monitoring the herd level of existing infection. The tools will be more valuable if we use them correctly.

[Webinar] Dairy Market Update June 2026: Protect What You've Built Before July 1

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 03:00:00 -0400

3 things you need to know about bedding with manure solids

rschrift@mclanahan.com — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Sand is the ideal dairy bedding source, but it is not always feasible for every farm. Recycled manure solids can be a viable alternative for a mix of practical, economic and operational reasons.

Economic Update: HPAI returns to Texas, Utah

karen@agproud.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:47:50 -0400

In the news affecting a dairy producer's bottom line the first week of June 2026: New HPAI cases found in Texas and Utah, farmer sentiment slips again due to high input costs, and the FARM Program released its 2026 drug residue prevention manual.

[Podcast] Performance By Design: Science-driven solutions for today’s calf raisers

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this sponsorcast, IFF Animal Nutrition & Health highlights its science‑driven approach to helping calves start strong and perform predictably.

Heat and sun safety on the farm

krek0033@umn.edu — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Hot days and a blazing sun can be just as dangerous for the humans on the farm as it is for the livestock. There are many considerations for people to make while working out in the heat and sun, and they can make a big difference.

Betaine affects dairy herd health and performance during heat stress

gary@bioagsolutionsllc.com — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Betaine is a natural ingredient capable of dramatically affecting animal health and performance, specifically under increasing THI and heat stress-inducing conditions.

Class III-IV gap widens to largest spread since 2020

jenn@agproud.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 16:08:46 -0400

The May USDA Announcement of Class and Component Prices report is indicative of a milk market the U.S. dairy industry has not seen since 2020 as the gap between Class III and Class IV reached $5.40 per hundredweight (cwt), incentivizing depooling in Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs).

Data-driven work done right

creese@bovisync.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Most dairies collect a lot of information. But ask yourself this: Is that information helping you answer the questions that matter? If not, you are not really using your data. You’re just storing it. And there’s a big difference between the two.

Making time for the conversations that matter to improve farm safety

madelyne.vanderkooy@wsu.edu — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

One of the strongest returns on investment for any farm is proactive, effective communication about safety, which is a practice that protects valuable employees while sustaining performance.

[Podcast] What it takes to raise great heifers and build a winning team culture with Jason Shamburg and Nic Schoenberger

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Join host Kimmi Devaney as she chats with Jason Shamburg and Nic Schoenberger, founders and managing partners of Kansas Dairy Development (KDD), about raising dairy replacements and leading a dynamic, high-caliber team.

Case study: How a high-producing dairy herd cuts antibiotic use by 78%

gepalas@iastate.edu — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For this herd, the opportunity wasn’t solving a visible problem, it was uncovering unnecessary cost. By using individual cow data to guide dry-off decisions, they reduced treatment, maintained herd performance and captured additional value.

Weekly Digest: Checkoff to celebrate National Cheese Day June 4

karen@agproud.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:15:50 -0400

In the news related to dairy farming the first week of June 2026: The dairy checkoff brings "Body by Cheese" to life for National Cheese Day, U.S. dairy calls for action on Canadian dairy trade practices, and the FARM Program kicks off its annual Excellence Awards.

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.

AED initiative aims to provide training that could save lives

bchambers@dairywest.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In rural communities, emergency response times can be longer. Having an AED on-site can bridge that gap and give someone a fighting chance before help arrives. It’s an investment not just in your operation, but in your people, your family and your community.