Karen Bohnert

1 week ago | dairyherd.com | Karen Bohnert

DFA’s recent attack serves as a stark reminder that the need for cybersecurity in agriculture is more pressing than ever.  •  June 18, 2025 10:59 AM Warning of a system hacked. Virus, cyberattack, malware concept. 3D rendering. (iStock) In recent news, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), the largest dairy cooperative in the U.S., revealed that multiple manufacturing plants within their network experienced a ransomware attack.

1 week ago | dairyherd.com | Karen Bohnert

While there is a positive trend in adopting sustainable practices, there’s a palpable gap in program awareness.  •  June 18, 2025 08:03 AM Editor’s Note: This is one article in a series that is included in the 2025 Farm Journal’s State of the Dairy Industry report. The full 16-page report will appear in the May/June issues of Dairy Herd Management and Milk Business Quarterly and will be published in this space over the next several weeks.

1 week ago | dairyherd.com | Karen Bohnert

A Wisconsin dairy farmer has filed a federal lawsuit challenging USDA’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs.  •  June 17, 2025 09:40 AM (Photo provided by Adam Faust) In a significant turn of events, a Wisconsin dairy farmer has filed a federal lawsuit challenging USDA’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

1 week ago | dairyherd.com | Karen Bohnert

This Milk Business Young Producer Award recipient is generating income by selling surplus fresh cows.  •  June 17, 2025 07:59 AM Entering the year with optimism, fifth-generation Virginia dairy farmer, Ben Smith, is pleased with the financial foothold his dairy farm has achieved. Reflecting on 2024, Smith notes the favorable financial conditions propelled by declining feed prices, which have been instrumental in improving farm margins.

1 week ago | dairyherd.com | Karen Bohnert

The focus remains on leveraging existing operations to find value beyond the milk check.  •  June 16, 2025 11:12 AM As we inch closer to the second half of 2025, the outlook for profitability for dairy producers is a topic of significant interest. Ben Laine, a dairy analyst with Terrain, shares that while 2025 is not shaping up to be an exceptional year in terms of profits, it is still manageable.