New World screwworm found in U.S.

For the cattle industry, the most significant border crossing in decades has happened. New World screwworm has been confirmed in a 3-week-old calf 30 miles northeast of the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. Tests are now being conducted at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa. This is the first screwworm case in the United States in 60 years.

NMPF responds to screwworm confirmation

The return of NWS is a disappointment, but it is one that dairy farmers have been preparing for more than a year. In a statement, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud said dairy farmers and all livestock producers pledge to collaborate closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, state and local officials to protect their herds. “We also urge officials to follow scientific guidance in any decisions affecting animal movements and regulatory responses to avoid causing economic harm that could be greater than the screwworm itself.”

FARM program updated

Dairy producers have a newly updated tool to help keep milk and beef products safe and free of drug residues. The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, or FARM Program, has released its updated Drug Residue Prevention Reference Manual. The guide provides dairy farmers and veterinarians with the latest recommendations on antibiotic stewardship, animal health practices, recordkeeping and residue prevention. The update also includes information on Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for NWS and new federal guidance on the use of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals.

A market reset

The dairy markets are undergoing a major correction. “We have obviously strong exports, which helped us in the first several months of the year, but as prices rose, we began to price ourselves out of some of those markets,” said Mike North, president, Ever Ag Producer Division. North still sees good demand under this market. “Don’t think like this is a tragic ending to a nice little run; it’s just a market reset.” Dairy markets have also been pressured by global supply dynamics and an increase in dairy stocks.

Dairy groups urge USMCA review to consider Canadian dairy quotas

The NMPF and U.S. Dairy Export Council have renewed their call for the U.S. Trade Representative to use the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement review process to address Canada’s export policies. This action followed a report from the U.S. International Trade Commission that said the Canadian milk production quotas “unlink its relatively high farmgate price of milk from the price that NFS (nonfat milk solids) processors pay for milk components in Canada using regulated price discrimination.” A USDEC official said, “Canada’s actions distort markets and undermine fair competition.”

Advantages of robotic milking vary by herd size

According to a study conducted by USDA’s Economic Research Service, the labor savings from robotic milking varies with the size of the dairy herd. The ERS differentiates paid and unpaid labor, with the dairy farm operator and household members doing much of the unpaid labor. Dairy farms with 50-149 milk cows and robotic milking systems had unpaid labor expenses of $5.30 per hundredweight in 2021. That compares to $9.22 per cwt. for farms without robotic milking systems. The small dairies had an insignificant difference in expenses for its paid labor: $1.32 per cwt. for the farms that have robotic milking and $1.01 per cwt. for the non-adopters. For dairies with 150-499 head, the operations with robotic milking spent $1.17 on paid labor and those without robotic milking equipment spent an average of $2.10 per cwt.

Race and sex-based preferences in federal farm programs criticized

A recent lawsuit settlement involving USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage Program could have broader implications for race-based preferences in federal farm programs. The case involved a Wisconsin dairy farmer who challenged fee waivers offered only to minority farmers under the program. According to a The Wall Street Journal editorial, the settlement could lead to the elimination of race-conscious policies within USDA programs.

Minnesota beef producers reject checkoff increase

Minnesota cattle producers narrowly rejected a proposed refundable 50-cent increase to the state beef checkoff assessment. The measure failed by just three votes statewide. Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association President Jake Thompson said he was disappointed with the outcome, noting the checkoff program plays a critical role in beef promotion and market development. “I thought that was communicated fairly well,” said Thompson. “If there was any time within the beef industry to make that extra investment, maybe right now would be a great time; apparently, the people who voted just thought a little differently.” The current state beef checkoff remains at $1 per head. That rate hasn’t changed since its inception in 1986.

Teens trust dairy

The Dairy Management Inc. Consumer Perceptions Tracker is now in its third year. The latest survey found 36% of consumers gave dairy its top two trust ratings on a 7-point scale, up 1% from 2024. One of the most encouraging parts of the report was the dramatic increase in trust amongst teenagers. The teen category had a 33% trust rating in 2023, 41% in 2024 and 47% in 2025. Teenagers overtook baby boomers as the group having the most support for dairy.

Body by Cheese

The dairy checkoff is leveraging National Cheese Day on June 4 to highlight cheese as a convenient, high-quality protein option. A fun campaign called “Body by Cheese” makes the connection between cheese and fitness, wellness and snacks. DMI is behind this effort.

Holstein USA recognizes Gieger

Holstein Association USA Inc. has announced that its Distinguished Leadership Award recipient is Corey Gieger. Gieger is the lead dairy economist for CoBank. Previously, he spent nearly three decades with Hoard’s Dairyman.

Trivia challenge

The typical dairy cow sleeps four hours per day but lies down and rests for 12-14 hours per day. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, how much protein can be found in a single cup of cottage cheese? We’ll have the answer in our next edition of the Dairy Star.

    Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two sons, Tony and Sam, and five grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.