Butterfat and protein production set new records of 4.29% and 3.34%, respectively, in 2025, according to Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) data. Genetic gains propelled these numbers to new highs for four consecutive years. Based on current milk futures prices, some dairy farmers have been pulling back slightly on butterfat production by changing feed rations to produce a little less butterfat. At the same time, it is full steam ahead on protein. The evidence for this analy

Coalition seeks farmer input on sustainability data demands from milk buyers U.S. dairy farmers are increasingly raising concerns about requests for detailed farm-level data tied to sustainability and environmental reporting programs. These requests are often presented as voluntary but may be required to maintain access to milk markets. Recently, a dairy farmer from Wisconsin shared her experience online, explaining that she was asked to provide extensive operational informat

In the high-stakes world of dairy management, a single decision made in the breeding lane can echo through a farm’s balance sheet for years. When a producer stands with a straw of semen in hand, they aren’t just breeding a cow; they are making a three-year financial and biological investment. On a recent episode of the “Dairy Health Blackbelt Podcast,” Daryl Nydam, a professor of dairy health and production at Cornell University, sat down with Craig McConnel, an associate pro