Our checkoff mission is to drive demand and sales of U.S.-produced dairy and build trust in the farm families who work every day to feed the people around the world. That mission comes with a responsibility of transparency with our strategies and the way we invest your checkoff dollars.

Improved labor efficiency, employee retention and communication were among the benefits for two Pacific Northwest dairy farms that upgraded their milking parlors from the traditional herringbone and parallel models to a rotary and an automated milking system, respectively.

In 2024, dairy farmers may be looking to stabilize their income and navigate the unpredictable market by enrolling in the Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP) program. One of the distinguishing features of the Dairy-RP program is its adaptability to the specific needs of each dairy operation. This program takes into account regional pay structures and the operation’s environment.

As a dairy producer, I thought it would be interesting to see how different consumers view the dairy industry. For this session, I have interviewed one person with no dairy experience, two with family backgrounds in dairy but no regular experience, and one with heavy farming involvement but not a dairy farmer specifically.

Five companies recently showcased the latest and most innovative advancements available in 2024 for dairy farmers.

A cutting-edge new feed additive from Quality Technology International is the only feed additive currently patented for inhibition of salmonella colonization in livestock and poultry.

A new computer vision skill from developer Ever.Ag aims to give more dairy producers a way to get their feet wet with computer vision technology. The company’s new product, Maternity Warden, watches cows in the maternity pen for signs of calving and sends alerts when it detects them so employees can move the cow to a calving pen for just-in-time calving.