News

Corse Farm Dairy of Whitingham, Vermont has been selected as the 2026 New England Leopold Conservation Award recipient. The award honors farmers and forestland owners who exemplify excellent management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land while inspiring others. On their farm, the Corse family practices conservation through thoughtful, rotational grazing as well as water, manure, and forestland management.

The USDA is working to enhance its Soil Health Advancement Protocol and Evaluation (SHAPE) tool. Set to be released in 2029, the current initiative is seeking farmers and landowners to participate in a large data collection effort to better understand how soil health management practices improve agricultural productivity.

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) has recently announced the appointment of Corey Scott as President and CEO, succeeding Barbara O’Brien, who will retire following the Joint Annual Meeting in October. As the third president and CEO in DMI’s history, Scott will oversee 150 DMI and National Dairy Council employees on behalf of more than 23,000 dairy farmers and importers. Scott steps into this role after her experience as CEO and president of Midwest Dairy, vice president of sales and marketing at Athian, and over 15 years of leadership with Land O’ Lakes.

Recent updates from the IRS and Department of Energy provide clearer guidance for dairy biogas projects seeking to monetize the Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit (Section 45Z). The credit itself incentivizes transportation biofuel producers for lowering their lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. While additional review of the revised model is still needed, these changes are an encouraging step toward reducing uncertainty around the tax credit, particularly pertaining to dairy biogas projects.

No farm is the same as the next, and that goes for each of those farms’ soil health management practices as well. At a recent soil health field day in Seneca County, N.Y., three farmers shared their insights into their soil health management practices, ranging from organic rotations to no-till. Throughout the conversation, one theme remained the same — farmers sharing information on soil health management practices and the benefits and challenges they see with each, is the key to improving soil health on all farms.

New York is emerging as a dairy destination for capital investments, sustainability programs, and farmer-processor partnerships that are ahead of their time. With new processors, opportunities for sustainable growth and management advancements, and robust support systems through research institutions, industry organizations, and knowledge networks, New York is serving as a model for dairy’s future.

The Institute of Water Research at Michigan State University is leading an interdisciplinary effort to help address the interaction of regenerative agriculture practices and how soil health can be managed to enhance soil moisture and nutrient cycling under extreme events through the Soil Health Advancement for Agriculture Resilience Enhancement project. Aiming to help farmers navigate climatic extremes, the project has collaborated about 20 producers across Michigan to evaluate the performance of regenerative managements practices.

Senator Alex Padilla of California, has reintroduced the Converting Our Waste Sustainably (COWS) Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air and water quality, and adopt sustainable alternative manure management practices. The COWS Act will make alternative manure management practices eligible under USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and provide technical assistance and training to aid in practice adoption. Such expansion of opportunities will provide farmers access to the tools and support they need to continue the great work they’re already doing in conserving the environment.

Jeff Porter, technical consultant for Newtrient, participated in a recent webinar highlighting the findings of a completed 2020 NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant. The grant, evaluating 15 different dairy manure management technologies, assessed the performance, environmental impacts, and economic benefits of their adoption.

The North American Manure Expo took place in Wayne, Nebraska, drawing in over 800 farmers and farm advisers to view live demonstrations, educational sessions, panels, and exhibits focused on manure management technology. The Expo provides a comprehensive overview of the science behind manure applications and innovative technologies, of which are particularly important topics at a time where the rising costs of commercial fertilizers are limiting nutrient options for producers.