Dairy Nutrition News

New Dietary Guidelines Move Food Pyramid Closer to the Farm

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:43:25 GMT

The White House delivered a simple but clear message to Americans today: Eat real food.

“We are finally putting real food back at the center of the American diet. Real food that nourishes the body, restores health, fuels energy and builds strength,” says Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “This pivot also leans into the abundant, affordable and healthy food supply already available from America’s incredible farmers and ranchers. By making milk, raising cattle and growing wholesome fruits, vegetables and grains, they hold the key to solving our national health crisis.”

In the “most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades,” the White House released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 . The updated pyramid inverts the 1992 USDA version by prioritizing:

Protein (1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day, an increase from 0.8 grams)
Dairy and healthy fats as the foundation
Vegetables (3 servings per day)
Fruits (2 servings per day)

Unlike the old pyramid’s grain-heavy base and processed carbs, new recommendations limit whole grains to 2 to 4 servings per day and added sugars and highly processed oils should be avoided entirely.

Eat More Protein

Rollins says the previous dietary guidelines demonized protein in favor of carbohydrates.

“These guidelines reflect gold standard science by prioritizing high-quality, nutrient-dense protein foods in every meal,” Rollins says. “This includes a variety of animal sources, including eggs, poultry, seafood, and red meat, in addition to plant-sourced protein foods such as beans, peas, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds and soy.”

To put the new protein recommendations into perspective, Sigrid Johannes, executive director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, says for folks who should be consuming 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight that’s a 100% increase in recommended daily protein intake.

Dairy’s Seat at the Table

Dairy emerged in a strong position under the new dietary guidelines, with federal nutrition guidance supporting dairy at all fat levels for the first time.

“One of the key messages they’re telling consumers is eat dairy and eat dairy at all fat levels — that’s whole milk, cheese and butter,” says Matt Herrick of the International Dairy Foods Association. He calls it “a significant watershed moment,” reflecting how many families currently eat and shop today.

Echoing Herrick’s perspective, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud adds by better recognizing both fat and protein, the guidelines give a fuller picture of dairy’s nutritional value.

“Not all fats are created equal, and because the guidelines acknowledge this, dairy’s benefits are better reflected in this iteration of the guidelines,” Doud says.

When it comes to protein, consumer demand is reshaping the category, with cottage cheese at its highest level since the 1980s because of the high-protein trend, Herrick notes.

“Consumers are looking at labels more than ever and trying to find cleaner, less processed foods. Dairy fits that bill. Most products have just a handful of ingredients, and they’re all high in protein. People are turning to protein for growth, energy and overall health, and we’re going to continue to see consumers look to dairy to fulfill their protein and healthy fats needs,” Herrick says.

The processing sector has grown alongside the rising demand for dairy, reflecting both increased production and changing consumer preferences. Roughly $8 billion has been invested in new processing facilities from 2022 to 2025, with another $11 billion expected through 2028.

“We’re going to continue to see investments in processing facilities — new plants, updated lines and more capacity — to meet growing consumer demand for dairy protein and healthy fats,” Herrick notes.

Eat More Meat and Poultry

When it comes to meat and poultry, Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute President and CEO, says Secretary Rollins and Secretary Kennedy’s leadership have simplified the dietary guidelines making it clear meat is a protein powerhouse.

“Robust scientific evidence demonstrates that meat is a rich source of high-quality protein, essential vitamins and highly bioavailable minerals that support human health throughout the lifespan,” Potts says.

Kansas beef producer Marisa Kleysteuber describes the new “commonsense” dietary guidelines as “exciting and refreshing.”

“As beef producers we are blessed to work with a ruminant animal that can utilize Mother Nature’s production of cellulose from rain and sunshine and then convert it to one of the most nutrient rich proteins there is,” she says. “Whether the consumer is desiring an organic, grass fed or corn fed beef product, there are cattlemen and women all over the U.S. who put their heart into raising these cattle to produce a nutritious and delicious product that we have always believed in and now our leaders are standing behind the ranchers and farmers of America.”

Quintessentially American foods such as burgers, steaks, pork chops and Easter hams can remain a staple of American households, and the guidelines go so far as to recommend parents introduce nutrient-dense foods, including meat, early and continue focusing on “nutrient-dense foods such as protein foods” throughout childhood.

“America’s pork producers appreciate the 2025 dietary guidelines putting pork front and center on the plate. They took note of producer concerns and rightly gave pork and other high-protein, nutrient-dense and delicious meats their due when it comes to Americans’ health and dietary habits,” says Rob Brenneman , National Pork Producers Council president-elect and pork producer from Washington, Iowa.

Maddie Hokanson , a Minnesota pork producer and mother of two, says the new dietary guidelines’ strong emphasis on protein is a positive for the pork industry. She believes the new guidelines, paired with pork’s quality nutrition and versatility, bring together the perfect opportunity to increase pork consumption and demand in the U.S.

“As pig farmers, we are proud to produce a meat product that is packed with high-quality protein, while also being nutrient-dense with many essential vitamins and minerals,” Hokanson says. “As a parent to young children, I see both the physical and cognitive benefits of prioritizing protein in the diet at all ages, and I’m excited to see what the short- and long-term effects of this recommendation will be.”

Three Servings of Veggies and Two Servings of Fruit

Dairy and meat weren’t the only items at the top of the new dietary pyramid. Fresh fruits and vegetables were also given top billing.

“Diets rich in vegetables and fruits reduce disease risk more effectively than many drugs,” says Robert F Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health.

The new dietary guidelines recommend three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit per day. Like past editions of the dietary guidelines , the new guidelines recommend Americans eat “a variety of colorful, nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits” and advises whole produce items be eaten “in their original form.” Though not explicitly stated, the updated guidelines also call out “frozen, dried, or canned vegetables or fruits with no or very limited added sugars” as good options.

“Today’s dietary guidelines reinforce the critical role fruits and vegetables play in overall health,” says Mollie Van Lieu, International Fresh Produce Association vice president of nutrition and health, in the group’s response. “Scientific evidence consistently shows that fruits and vegetables should make up the majority of what people eat. The Administration’s focus on whole foods is an opportunity to increase fruit and vegetable intake, as they are the most nutrient-dense foods available.”

Rollins Teases Plan to Expand Real Food Retail Accessibility

There was more than the new dietary guidelines announced at the press event. Rollins mentioned upcoming changes at retail she says would increase the accessibility of whole, healthy foods to those in food deserts.

“Soon, USDA will finalize our stocking standards,” she says, explaining retailers that take SNAP benefits are bound by the stocking standards. “Very soon we will be finalizing that rule that will mandate all 250,000 retailers in America to double the type of staple foods they provide for America’s SNAP households. This means healthier options will be in reach for all American families, regardless of circumstance, at levels never seen before in our country.”

Grains and Oilseed Industry Focuses on Positives

In terms of grains, in its guidance USDA recommends Americans “focus on whole grains, while sharply reducing refined carbohydrates.” The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) shared mixed reactions to the changes.

“We appreciate the continued recognition of whole grains as an essential part of Americans’ diets,” said a spokesperson with NAWG in a statement to Farm Journal. “However, we are concerned that some portions of the new guidelines around grains and wheat are unintentionally confusing. Wheat, wheat flour, and foods made from wheat have been nutrient-rich, life-sustaining staples for tens of thousands of years and deserve clear, continued support as a central part of our nation’s diet.”

The American Soybean Association (ASA) focuses on the positives saying it highlights the importance of increased protein consumption, including plant-based proteins, such as soy-based foods. They also emphasize prioritizing healthy fats, including oils rich in essential fatty acids like soybean oil.

ASA says an addendum continues to call into question the process of soybean oil extraction, which it says is scientifically proven to be safe for human health.

“Soybean oil and soy protein play a critical role in the health and nutrition of Americans,” says Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio farmer, in a press release. “We remain deeply concerned by the rhetoric and selectively cited studies regarding the health and safety of soybean oil in DGA supporting material.”

Metzger says soybean growers will continue to work with the administration and educate MAHA commission leadership on the health benefits of soy-based foods and soybean oil.

The National Oilseed Processors Association (NOPA) echoed those concern: “Vegetable oils, or “seed oils” as they’re sometimes referred to, are a significant provider of essential fatty acids and remain a safe and cost-effective source of dietary fats in the American diet, as they are globally,” said a NOPA press release. “However, some appendices rely on a narrow evidence base with limited citations, which is concerning given the administration’s rhetoric questioning the safety of certain vegetable oils despite an established scientific consensus.”

NOPA also argues oilseeds support the production of affordable meat, dairy and eggs as meal produced from oilseeds are a key component of livestock diets.

From Brew to Moo: The Sustainable Dairy Practices at Ayers Farm

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:45:53 GMT

A good brew isn’t just for humans — it’s on the menu for the Holstein cows at Ayers Farm in Perryville, Ohio, too. This unique twist in cattle feed comes from an unexpected source: the Budweiser plant in Columbus. At Ayers Farm, home to more than 600 Holstein cows, this innovative use of brewer’s mash, a byproduct of the beer-making process, has become an integral part of their operation.

(Ayers Farm)

A Sustainable Diet
At Ayers Farm, sustainability is a key focus. The herd’s nutritionist orchestrates a delicate balance of crops and upcycled food byproducts to ensure the cows’ diet is both nutritious and environmentally conscious. Kathy Davis, a seventh-generation dairy farmer at Ayers Farms, emphasizes the importance of this approach.

“By using a byproduct from another process, we prevent it from ending up in a trash pile,” she says, underscoring their commitment to sustainable practices and innovative feed solutions that benefit their cows and the broader agricultural community.

Davis says they have been feeding distillers grains ever since she was in high school in the late ‘80s. She says farmers are the ultimate recyclers, adding they also include corn gluten, soybean meal and cottonseed to their cows’ diets.

“It was close by, and we could incorporate into the ration what would be beneficial,” she says, noting that prior to feeding distillers grains, the farm used potato waste from a nearby Frito Lay plant. “That is when we were feeding out steers. The potato starch content didn’t make it a good fit to feed our cows, but we’re always looking for benefits, and the distiller grain is economical, and our nutritionist was really excited about the possible benefits for it.”

(Ayers Farm)

Behind the Scenes
Ayers Farm isn’t just feeding its cows better — it’s also incorporating technology to enhance the health and productivity of their herd. From GEA activity monitors on breeding-age heifers, as well as lactating and dry cows to integrated feeding programs, plus DeLaval cameras in the maternity pens, the farm is leveraging tech to stay ahead. These systems provide valuable data that helps manage everything from health indicators to milk production metrics, ensuring issues are flagged before they become problems.

“It’s not just about milk production; it’s about having a good workforce and external partners, such as nutritionists and veterinarians, that help us achieve a sustainable, rewarding livelihood,” Davis shares. “Ultimately, it has to return a good livelihood to us and for our employees, so that our work-to-life balance is good, and we feel like we’re accomplishing something when we come to work every day.”

In addition to the cows, the Ayers have an equal number of replacement heifers and farm 1,500 acres. A total of 25 people work on their farm, which also includes owner-operators.

Challenges and the Future
Despite their advancements, like many farms, Ayers Farm faces challenges, particularly concerning labor and logistical hurdles in milk hauling. Yet, they are adapting, trying innovative solutions such as breeding and beef-on-dairy strategies to improve margins.

Looking ahead, steady communication and strategic planning are crucial for Ayers Farm, especially with generational transitions on the horizon. Davis’ father and uncle are in their ‘70s, while she and her cousin continue to accumulate more responsibilities. Succession planning not only involves the transfer of assets but also adapting the day-to-day share of operation responsibilities to ensure smooth management handoffs.

Ayers Farm is a testament to how traditional farming values can coexist with innovative practices. By incorporating distillers grains, optimizing feed through technology and planning for future generations, Ayers Farm continues to thrive in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape.

Your Next Read:
The Strategy Behind an Eight-Generation Dairy Legacy

Southern Rust Set To Take Big Bite Out Of Midwest Corn Crop?

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:56:59 GMT

If one picture is worth a thousand words, then the video Iowa farmer Dan Striegel shot last week must be worth thousands more. In the video, Striegel is shown harvesting a field of emerald-green corn enveloped in a cloud of orangish-red southern rust.

“We were just getting that field opened up, and I looked over and saw that dust boiling up out of the chopper, so I shot the video,” Striegel says.

Southern Rust? Never heard of her.
What Cheer, Iowa. USA. #pftour25 #harvest25 pic.twitter.com/tiIsUc2CHl
— Dan Striegel (@djsinseia) August 21, 2025

To date, Striegel’s video has garnered more than 48,000 views on X, formerly Twitter.

“We’re in southeast Iowa, Keokuk County, and I think the southern rust is as bad here as it is anywhere,” Striegel adds. “Every field you walk in, if you’re wearing a white T-shirt, you’ll come out of there red.”

A Red Path Of Disease Mars The Midwest

Expect to see more red T-shirt-clad farmers walking out of cornfields across the upper Midwest, based on what the Crop Protection Network (CPN) southern rust map is showing.

The CPN continually updates its online, interactive map showing the counties by state where southern rust infections are confirmed. Now, in late August, the counties look like red steppingstones. They form a checkered path from southwest Michigan through northern Illinois and Indiana, into southern Wisconsin, across all of Iowa and nearly two-thirds of the way across Nebraska. Eastern South Dakota is also lit up with a string of red counties, as are parts of southern to central Minnesota.

The amount of southern rust present in the upper Midwest is worrisome to Ken Ferrie, Farm Journal Field Agronomist. In severe cases, the disease can wipe out 45% of the yield potential in a field, according to the CPN.

“At most, one in 10 growers in northern Iowa and Minnesota have seen the kind of southern rust some of them are seeing this year,” says Ferrie, who was working last week with corn growers in both states.

“It was a problem in probably eight out of every 10 fields I was in, and they’d all been sprayed at least once,” he says. “Minnesota has a corn crop that’ll knock your socks off – yield potential of 250, 270. I encouraged every grower to spray their field a second time except for two fields. One had been knocked down by hail, and the other had a hybrid that was clean.”

I spoke with a good friend of mine from Iowa yesterday that is an agronomist and farmer. He said the southern rust in corn across Iowa and much of the Midwest will take 9 to 12 bushel/acre off corn yields on average from what his team and himself are seeing. pic.twitter.com/Ad1VJ9oQBg
— Captain Cornelius1 (@ISU145) August 26, 2025

Hybrids Have Little To No Resistance To Southern Rust

A combination of early-season moisture, heat and wind formed the perfect storm for southern rust this season, allowing the disease-causing fungal spores (Puccinia polysora) to move from southern climes up to the Midwest, according to Kurt Maertens, BASF technical service representative for eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

“We’ve seen it all – southern rust, tar spot, northern corn leaf blight, gray leaf spot. Our corn has been inundated with all these fungal diseases, and we started seeing them early,” says Maertens.

If there’s a silver lining to southern rust, it’s that it does not overwinter in corn residue like tar spot does. But like tar spot, southern rust takes advantage of hybrids that have no built-in resistance. For many growers, that was an Achilles heel this season.

“When you’re dealing with a 117-day hybrid like they grow in southern Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky, you don’t grow corn that doesn’t have good southern rust resistance, because they deal with it every year,” Ferrie notes. “When you move to Minnesota, and you’re planting 102- to 95-day corn, you’re probably not going to find hybrids with southern rust resistance.”

Striegel says that was true for his neighbor’s cornfield, which he custom chopped for silage. “That field had two hybrids in it, one was worse than the other, and the field had been sprayed with a fungicide,” he says.

He adds that he also sprayed his own cornfields with fungicide, but they are still inundated with southern rust.

“We’ve had southern rust before, and it’s not usually something we have to worry about, but this is really bad,” Striegel says. “I’m standing on my deck looking at the cornfield next to my house, and you know, all of the leaves from the ears down in that field are covered with it.”

Southern rust is real in eastern Nebraska. Fungicide 3 weeks ago, 2nd app today with some potassium acetate pic.twitter.com/WZubU6IBwz
— Trent Mastny (@TrentMastny) August 21, 2025

How Late Is A Fungicide Application Still Worthwhile?

Ferrie says the fields he scouted last week were at late R3 to early R4 and had already been sprayed with fungicide at least once, but the disease was rebuilding.

“Any field where farmers had sprayed two weeks previously, the southern rust and northern corn leaf blight, to a lesser degree, were coming back, especially the southern rust. It was resporating,” he says.

The intense disease pressure from southern rust, tar spot and others have kept fungicide use at high levels this season, despite poor commodity prices.

“Because of that [amount of disease pressure], we have seen increased demand for our fungicides this year,” says Maertens, who encouraged customers to get applications made at the beginning of tassel.

Maertens says he has fielded a lot of questions this summer from farmers, asking how late they could go with a fungicide application and still benefit.

“Our recommendation is to get in front of disease,” he says. “Generally, we stop applications before we get to dent (R5). That’s not to say a later application can’t have some benefit, but our best results have been before infection was able to take place.”

Southern rust is a yield enemy farmers routinely face in the Southeast, reports corn yield champion Randy Dowdy, Valdosta, Ga. He participated in the Pro Farmer Crop Tour last week and said on U.S. Farm Report he believes many Midwest farmers still have time to address disease.

“We need to implore the fungicides, the technologies out there and get after it and protect this crop, especially that crop that still has not reached dent,” he says.

Farm Journal Field Agronomist Missy Bauer likes to see farmers complete their fungicide applications on the front side of dough (early R4). “Once we get to early dent, I think it’s a little more challenging to get the payback consistently, though we’ve applied at early dent (R5), and seen a nice response,” says Bauer, who is based in south-central Michigan.

Under the tough disease pressure farmers are facing this year, Bauer is telling growers to scout fields and evaluate what growth stage their crop is in before they walk away or pull the fungicide trigger one last time.

She adds that farmers need to check the label to make sure the product used is able to address southern rust effectively. She describes these as “Cadillac” products containing the newest chemistry.

“When it comes to some of these diseases, especially southern rust and tar spot, I do believe a little bit of a Hail Mary pass can be effective,” she says. “Will it be as effective as an application you could have made on a more timely basis? Well, no, you could have made more money doing it timely, but you’re still protecting bushels and gaining ROI at the end.”

Ferrie adds that farmers might want to do the late-season fungicide application to keep their corn crop standing until they can put their harvest plan in place.

“Be doing the push test to check stalk quality,” he advises.

Southern Rust/Silage Alert!!

Southern Rust has been aggressively advancing in many fields, especially those without a fungicide treatment. In some situations the plants are shutting down prematurely and plant material is senescing rapidly.

While we typically want to get down… pic.twitter.com/aK3hGgZE19
— Pioneer Troy (@deutmeyer_troy) August 26, 2025

Striegel says some of the farmers around him are heading to fields to harvest their silage corn sooner than later, because of standability concerns. “Some of this corn got planted early, and we had a lot of heat. The crop matured quickly, and the diseases are kind of shutting it down. It’s just dying out, and guys are going to go get it,” he explains.

That’s the strategy Ferrie encourages farmers to use in regular production corn, too.

“Harvest the fields most at risk first. But if a field of corn goes down, go combine the fields where the corn is still standing and come back to that one later,” he recommends.

The reasoning is you don’t want to risk more corn going down while you’re harvesting the field of corn that already has.

“While I was driving through Iowa last week, I kept thinking that if I built corn reels to pick up down corn I’d bulk up my inventory, because I know where they’re going to get used,” Ferrie says, only half joking. “Yes, harvesting corn at 25% moisture is expensive, but down corn will kick your butt.”

Your next read: Revenge Applications: Why They Don’t Work, Cost You Money and Bushels, and Are Frankly Illegal

Drones Hone in on Silage Inventories

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:54:30 GMT

A high-tech inventory assessment program developed for the stone aggregate business is now being used to help dairies assess forage inventories.

Just like quarries, most large dairies have massive stockpiles of resources in inventory, but in the form of silage piles and bunkers versus sand and gravel. Harrison Hobart, On-Farm Specialist for Alltech, Inc., uses the same drone-driven computer model as quarries to serve his customers to accurately measure how much silage they have on hand.

Hobart has an animal science and nutrition background, but also is a licensed drone operator. He shared with the audience of a recent “ Technology Dairy Tuesday ” webinar from the Cornell PRO-DAIRY program that he has helped manage Alltech’s Aerial Inventory Program for about two years.

He said the inventory assessment program uses cloud-based software that can be accessed via cellphone or computer, and interfaced with his drone. A cellphone app is linked to the controller that runs the drone on the farm. The program uses “photogrammetry” – using images for measuring – to assess volume of inventory.

Viewing a silage pile from many different angles, combined with GPS data on each individual picture, allows him to “stitch” hundreds of pictures together to create a 3-D model.

“The software provider says system can perform volume calculations at an accuracy rate within 1-2% compared to ground-based laser measurements,” shared Hobart.

While the actual volume measurement is very precise, silage does not have consistent moisture content or packing density. That’s where potential for variation occurs, requiring additional data to ultimately calculate actual tonnage.

Hobart adopts a mantra of, “don’t guess – test,” when it comes to this step. He said book values for density and dry matter can vary significantly among individual farms and silage crops. That’s why he takes multiple core samples – whenever it is safe to do so – from at least 5-6 locations across a silage face to measure density and dry matter.

“I’ve measured average densities over the past two years in corn silage drive-over piles as low as 12 pounds of dry matter per cubic foot and as high as 24,” he stated. “If I had put an average density of 16 on either one of those piles, my tonnage estimate would have been off by quite a bit.”

He evaluates each core sample for weight and dry matter, noting the accuracy advantage of handling those samples individually. “I’ve especially noticed that in haylage piles where we have several cuttings piled on each other, those dry matters can vary considerably,” said Hobart. “I’ve seen a 15-foot-wide by 10-foot-tall pile with four cuttings all stacked together, and dry matters ranging from 25 to 55%.”

Hobart said drive-over piles are ideal for the drone-based volume estimation, while closed-end bunkers, overhangs, sloping dirt walls, and overlapping piles require him to make manual adjustments in the program to improve volume accuracy. Then, armed with volume, density, and dry-matter data, he is able to generate customer reports on dry matter and as-fed tons for each pile or bunker.

As a rule, Hobart advises customers the reports should be accurate within about two weeks of feed out. Again, assessment of piles typically will be more precise than bunkers. In some cases, his pile estimates have been dialed in as close as within a day of feed out.

In addition to helping customers know how much feed they have available and how long it should last, Hobart is able to help farms determine feed loss due to fermentation and shrink by taking a baseline reading of the fresh pile or bunker, measuring it again after it has been fed out for several weeks, and comparing the difference to the farm’s feed-out records.

Hobart said the data is also valuable from a farm accounting perspective. Customers routinely share the information with their bankers to assess the value of feed on hand as part of their net worth statements, and some have used it for forage sales and farm ownership transitions.

One thing Hobart has not done with the technology – but would like to – is to evaluate a fresh pile or bunker at harvest and again several weeks later, before any of it is fed. Industry estimates indicate that up to 10% of silage volume is lost strictly to fermentation. “It would be interesting to evaluate the loss purely from fermentation, and it would be very easy to do,” said Hobart.

For more on dairy technology, read:

Indiana Dairy Farmers Excited to Be Part of the Indy 500 Winner Circle

Wed, 24 May 2023 16:02:10 GMT

A winning tradition unfolds in the midsection of the country each Memorial Day weekend as engines rev up for the biggest motorsports event in the world. As Indy cars circle the track at top speed, all eyes turn to the winner’s circle for the big splash, victory celebration.

While every sport has its traditions, the winning Indianapolis 500 driver celebrates with an ice-cold bottle of milk. The rich tradition began in 1936, which includes the winning driver taking a sip or two of milk before pouring the entire bottle on themself.

2023 Veteran Milk Man

It’s a tradition that Indiana dairy farmers get to help orchestrate. Dairy farmer Kerry Estes is looking forward to the Indy 500 winner grabbing the bottle of milk from his hands as he serves as the 2023 Veteran Milk Man for the race at the 107th Indy 500.

“It was my dream from when I was a boy to be able to be a dairy farmer,” the first-generation dairy farmer shares. “Not growing up on a farm made that reality quite a challenge. But God made my dream become a reality in an amazing but difficult way.”

Estes shares that to represent Indiana dairy farmers at the Indy 500 is a humbling, yet meaningful experience.

“It carries with it the thrill of being in the middle of such a huge event, but also the responsibility to carry the message of all the great things that dairy farmers provide,” he says.

Estes purchased his farm on a contract from an older farmer, then built their dairy operation from there.

“We have quite the startup story,” he shares. The family milks 150 crossbred cows on a hybrid grazing and confinement dairy southeast of Indianapolis.

The strong message Estes hopes to be a champion for is “Winners Drink Milk,” the same slogan that American Dairy Farmers of Indiana share.

“By shining a light on the sustainable practices that dairy farmers are already doing, how much we care for our cows, and how nutritious and safe milk is, the consuming public can see the truth of how valuable dairy is in their lives,” he says.

All of Estes’s family will join him at the big race.

“My wife will be with me, and my four kids will be coming later, after they get the milking chores completed,” he says. “We do not have any hired help, so our kids getting to the race on time will be quite the challenge. But fortunately, we live very close to Indy to make it possible.”

2023 Rookie Milk Man

Alex Neuenschwander, a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Bluffton, will also be at the Indy Speedway on Sunday, serving as the 2023 Rookie Milk Man, learning the ropes from Estes on how it all works.

“Obviously growing up in Indiana, I’ve always enjoyed watching the Indy 500,” he says. “After church on Sundays, we would watch the race at my grandpa’s house.”

Neuenschwander says he started taking his sons one at a time to the race a few years ago. As the cars raced around the track, his middle son told him that he should be the one that hands over the milk in the winner circle.

Estes shared with Neuenschwander that the winner circle is an electric atmosphere.

“He told me it’s mayhem and there’s really no way to be ready for that,” Neuenschwander says, sharing that his job as the rookie is to hand milk to the winning team.

“I was told to find the owner first,” he adds, stating that it is a true privilege to represent Indiana dairy farmers.

“It’s just a gigantic stage for milk for dairy farmers to highlight the hard work that the men and women of the dairy industry put in every single every single day,” Neuenschwander says. “Everything that goes into the passion of dairy farming and producing high-quality milk for families and taking incredible care of our cows.”

Neuenschwander’s entire family, including boys, Adler, 15, Case, 12 and Wyatt, 8, will also be at the Indy 500 this year with his oldest son sitting in the box with him.

“My sons are teenagers, so I’ll take that moment when they think I’m kind of cool,” he says.

The 107th Indy 500 is set for Sunday, May 28 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Wood Milk—Calling Attention to What People Are Drinking

Wed, 03 May 2023 16:49:39 GMT

If you’ve scrolled through social media lately, then you might have seen the advertisement campaign for “Wood Milk.” This campaign is meant to call attention to plant-based milk alternatives while making some fun of broader food-brand claims of environmental and animal-friendly products.

The ad— funded through MilkPEP — features “White Lotus” actress, Aubrey Plaza, as the co-founder of Wood Milk in a parody of the iconic “Got milk” advertising campaign.

According to Yin Woon Rani, CEO of MilkPEP, the goal is that Wood Milk would cause people to pause and question what they are consuming and the nutritional value of their choices.

“Following the recent FDA guidance suggesting that plant-based alternatives can label themselves as ‘milk’ so long as any nutritional differences to real dairy milk are clearly identified, we wanted to create a standout, satirical piece that created conversation and shines a light on the fact that many people do not know the nutritional value of their beverages - or lack thereof. We recognize that the beverage market is continuing to grow and consumers are increasingly faced with more and more options,” she remarked.

At the start of the video, the actress, Plaza, who sports flannel, strolling in a woody setting, says, “Have you ever looked at a tree and thought, ‘Can I drink this?’”

Plaza then stares at a tree in an orchard and responds, “I did.”

She then introduces herself as the co-founder of Wood Milk, “The world’s first and only milk made from wood.”

The ad is revealed by the end to be a knock-off of the “Got Milk?” campaign.

“Is wood milk real? Absolutely not. Only real milk is real.” Plaza says in closing. “Then what did I invest in?!”

Rani shares that the campaign comes on the heels of the FDA’s recent guidance that recommends plant-based milk alternatives labeled “milk” that have a nutrient composition different from milk need to state that on the label.

“Our hope is that Wood Milk causes people to pause, to understand what they are consuming and the nutritional value of their choices. Dairy milk is a benchmark for essential nutrients for a reason,” Rani says, stating they created the fictitious Wood Milk, a made-up brand with zero nutritional value, in hopes to bring the power and goodness of real milk into the spotlight.

While this YouTube video has more than 4.4 million views, not all comments have been positive.

(158) Aubrey Plaza Launches New Product ? #drinkwoodmilk - YouTube

One person commented:

“I’m so heartbroken y’all. Aubrey Plaza out here doing ads for the dairy industry trying to make fun of plant milks by shilling “wood milk”.

The desperation,” another person tweeted , adding a sobbing emoji. “Aubrey how could you!”

Plaza has since turned off the comments on her Instagram post of the ad, although people are commenting on Plaza’s other, non-milk-related posts to express their dismay.

“We understand that everyone has their own opinion,” Rani noted. “However, we stand by our belief that real dairy milk is a nutritional powerhouse and a delicious addition to a healthy diet. We anticipated that Wood Milk wouldn’t be for everyone, but we wanted to start a conversation. While we expected backlash from the anti-dairy crowd, there is an entire community fired up - #WoodMilkNation - and our fictitious social handles are still continuing to grow with support. We are celebrating this community of support!”

Follow These Steps When Fertilizing Perennial Forages

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 16:49:02 GMT

With fall just around the corner, now is the time to think about applying fertilizer to perennial forages like alfalfa, clover and timothy. According to Dr. Mark Sulc, professor and extension forage specialist, and Greg LaBarge, agronomic field specialist, both from Ohio State University, September is a prime time to prep perennial forage soil.

“Soils are usually firm in September, and autumn topdressing provides needed nutrients for good winter survival of the forage stand and vigorous regrowth the following spring,” the duo state. “Hay crops will remove about 50 lb. of K2O and 12 lb. of P2O5 per ton of dry hay harvested. Adequate amounts of soil P and K are important for the productivity and persistence of forage stands. However, nutrient over-application harms the environment and can harm animals fed those forages.”

Before heading to the fields, there are a few steps farmers should follow. These include:

Have recent soil tests available to help guide you in what nutrients to apply and how much.
If you are applying high rates of phosphorus or potassium, consider splitting applications. There is an advantage to splitting the application, with half applied this autumn and the remainder applied next spring after the first cutting when soils are firm.
Don’t over apply P and K. According to the extension agents, many dairy farms have high levels of soil P, making the expense of fertilizer P unnecessary. When soil test P exceeds the agronomic level of 50 ppm, there is an increased potential for P losses into streams and lakes. Applying too much K will result in luxury consumption by the forage plants, leading to excessive levels of K in the forage that can cause animal health problems.
Apply at the right rate. Your soil test should give you indicators as to what rate you should apply fertilizer on different fields. For help determining what rate to apply, check out this free tool.

For more on forages, read:

Fighting Food Insecurity with Football: Here’s What Joe Burrow and Farmers Have in Common

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 17:19:13 GMT

My children and I watched live on television when the Cincinnati Bengals selected Athens, Ohio native Joe Burrow as their number one NFL draft pick in 2020. The 2019 Heisman trophy winner used his instant fame as a national platform to highlight poverty and food insecurity facing Southeast Ohio.

“Coming from Southeast Ohio, it’s a very, very impoverished area. The poverty rate is almost two times the national average,” Burrow said. “There are so many people there that don’t have a lot, and I’m up here for all those kids in Athens and Athens County that go home to not a lot of food on the table, hungry after school. You guys can be up here, too.”

That NFL draft speech from Joe Burrow struck a chord with me and easily makes me want to cheer for his team come this Super Bowl Sunday. You see, my father grew up poor, beyond my comprehension. My late father and his sister were frequently left abandoned by their single mother growing up. The only food the sibling pair could find is a bag of flour, to which they’d add some water to eat. Food scarcity is a topic that our household frequently openly talks about, as we know firsthand how blessed we are.

The statistics are alarming—according to Feeding America, 1 in 7 Americans struggle with hunger. It is now estimated that 42 million people, including 13 million children, face food insecurity. COVID-19 drew a big light and much needed attention to this issue. Having celebrities and athletes like NFL Quarterback Joe Burrow bring attention to this topic is also needed. Burrow’s 2019 speech led to a Facebook support page that quickly raised more than $350,000. Then in 2020, it led to the creation of the “Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund.”

In December, Burrow laced up his special orange-and-green cleats for the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign to help support and campaign for his hunger relief fund. On one side, Burrow’s cleats say, “Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.” On the other side, “Athens County Food Pantry.” On the back, “Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund.”

Again, Burrow used his platform and national spotlight to focus on food insecurity in Athens.

“It’s had a big impact to provide meals for people when they need it in the area where I’m from,” Burrow said. “The last number I saw, a couple months ago, we raised, at that point, over $6 million for people in the area. There’s a lot of stories I’ve heard where it’s really helped some people, and that means a lot to me.”

So, while all my kids can talk about is the arm of the young quarterback kid from Athens High School in Ohio, what makes me smile is his big platform that shines a big light on food insecurity. At a young age, Joe Burrow understands that he is one of the lucky ones. Not because he went onto LSU to play football or was drafted to play football in the NFL or because he is taking his team to the Super Bowl for the first time in 34 years. Like most of us, Burrow feels he is one of the fortunate ones, simply because he has food on his table. Something that many in his community, and around the world, don’t.

In 2021, more than 2.2 billion servings of milk, cheese and yogurt have been distributed through the Feeding America network. That all translates to 664 million pounds of dairy distributed to families in need.

One way to prepare for the Super Bowl is to follow Joe Burrow’s lead and help fight food insecurity. Donate by making a gift to Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund at www.JoeBurrowFund.org or donate to Feeding America at www.feedingamerica.org.

3 Tips for Cover Crop Success

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 20:43:28 GMT

Building trust in food begins with empowering farmers through one of the largest and most diverse conservation- and sustainability-focused public-private partnerships in our nation’s history: America’s Conservation Ag Movement. To find the latest news and resources related to the Movement, visit AgWeb.com/ACAM .

Cover crops continue to work their way onto fields across the Midwest. While the benefits might be well known, so are the challenges in developing an on-farm system to work in each situation. Here area few tips to use cover crops throughout the year.

1. Time Your Cover Crop Planting Right

You don’t have to wait for harvest before putting cover crops in the ground. “We started planting cover crops this year on June 15 into 60" row corn,” says Mitchell Hora, a farmer in Washington, Iowa. “We will continue planting cover crops until the early part of December.”

In the northern Corn Belt, Jodi DeJong-Hughes, a regional extension educator with the University of Minnesota, says preharvest is an option for those worried about an earlier blast of winter. “Before the corn is harvested, when it starts to die off and you can get more sunlight down into the ground, we’re going out there with a highboy to put down the cover crops.”

Depending on the fall and the situation, it might be also be an option to establish a cover crop in late winter or early spring ahead of planting.

2. Aim for Good Seed-to-Soil Contact

Similar to planting cash crops, make sure cover crop seed is well incorporated if planting into standing crops. “We’ve tried it with airplanes, and most of the time you’re feeding the rodents in the field more than you’re getting that seed-to-soil contact we really need,” DeJong-Hughes says.

3. Let Cover Crops Grow Longer

Planting into a green, well-established cover crop can provide benefits at planting. “It’s another way to dry out soils,” Hora says. “It’s not only utilizing evaporation to dry off the top of the soil surface, but we’re also utilizing transpiration, where the plant can pull moisture from the roots deeper in the soil, up through the plant and exude it out into the atmosphere as water vapor.”

Weed Today, Cover Crop Tomorrow

A weed could one day serve as a new beneficial cover crop. Researchers at universities across the Midwest are working to genetically modify pennycress. The plant yields an oilseed that could be processed into biofuel, animal feed and other products.

Pennycress could produce 2,000 lb. of seed per acre or 80 gal. of oil and is suited for the 80 million acres of corn and soybean ground that typically sits dormant in the winter, says Illinois State researcher John Sedbrook. He believes pennycress, like other cover crops, could also help stem topsoil losses and nutrient runoff.