Dairy Extension Team - Iowa State University

Last day to register! Don't miss the 2026 Stateline Dairy & Ag Outlook Seminar on June 10 in Waukon, Iowa.Hear from industry experts on dairy markets, farm transition planning, estate planning, and the future of the dairy industry.

📅 Registration deadline: June 3
📍 Empty Nest Winery | Waukon, IA

Register today: https://go.iastate.edu/ACCQIS

Mark your calendars! Join the Iowa Sheep Industry Association on June 6 at Robert's Creek in Saint Olaf, Iowa, for a pasture walk featuring virtual fencing technology, grazing management strategies, NRCS opportunities, and extension updates.

📅 June 6 | ⏰ 1:00 p.m.

Advance registration required and can be found here: https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/2026/05/05/iowa-sheep-industry-association-hosts-june-6-pasture-walk-at-roberts-creek/

🥛 June is Dairy Month! 🐄

Today and every day, we celebrate the dairy farmers, industry professionals, and dairy cattle who work tirelessly to provide nutritious products for families around the world.

From the farm to the table, dairy supports our communities, fuels our bodies, and contributes to a strong agricultural future. Thank you to everyone involved in producing safe, sustainable, and high-quality dairy products.

Systems Thinking for Dairy Goat Sustainability brings together industry experts and researchers to discuss innovative, systems-based approaches to improving sustainability in the dairy goat industry.

Learn how systems thinking can connect animal agriculture, environmental stewardship, and long-term sustainability solutions for the future of dairy production.

Watch now on our youtube channel!

🍦 Churn Up the Volume!

Summer ice cream season is officially here, and with it comes soaring demand for cream across the dairy industry. From classic chocolate to bold new flavors, America’s love for ice cream continues to shape dairy markets, support farmers, and fuel innovation.

As temperatures rise, so does the need for butterfat and cream, connecting every scoop back to dairy farms across the country.

Read here: https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/nwiadairyoutlook/2026/05/21/churn-up-the-volume-ice-cream-season-sends-cream-demand-soaring/

Join us for the 2026 Stateline Dairy and Ag Outlook Seminar on June 10 at Empty Nest Winery in Waukon, Iowa!

This year’s seminar will feature discussions on estate planning, dairy farm transition strategies, market outlooks, and the current state of the dairy industry from industry experts across Iowa and Wisconsin.

📍 Empty Nest Winery | Waukon, IA
🕤 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
📅 Registration deadline: June 3

Registration Fees:
• $100 – Agricultural Lenders & Service Providers
• $25 – Dairy & Ag Producers

Pre-registration is required: https://go.iastate.edu/ACCQIS

Volatile milk pricing spreads and widening gaps between Class III and Class IV values are driving increased de-pooling across Federal Milk Marketing Orders, reshaping how milk revenue is shared and creating added uncertainty for dairy producer milk checks. As processors respond to stronger Class IV returns, more milk is being removed from the pool, reducing blend prices and contributing to the return of negative PPDs in several regions.

Read here: https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/nwiadairyoutlook/2026/05/12/understanding-the-impact-of-milk-market-de%E2%80%91pooling-on-producer-paychecks/

Price risk management remains a key factor in today’s ag markets, and this seminar helps lenders, advisors, and producers better understand risk tools, emerging technologies, and farm financial decision-making. Join experts from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and partner organizations for a full day of insights on estate planning, dairy industry outlook, livestock markets, and farm transition strategies.

June 10, 2026 | 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Empty Nest Winery, 1352 Apple Road, Waukon, IA
Registration: $100 lenders/service providers | $25 producers

🔗 Pre-register: https://go.iastate.edu/ACCQIS
Deadline: June 3

The 2026 Cash Rental Rates publication is now available, including the full 12-page report and a 4-page crop reporting district version for local use. This year’s survey includes 1,450 responses covering ~1.8 million rented acres across Iowa, with an average corn/soybean rent of $270/acre.

Full publication: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/wholefarm/html/c2-10.html

District PDFs & resources: https://iastate.box.com/s/i5azerus8dzai35ghq98o4d59jdnvo86

Archived & historical datahttps://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/wholefarm/pdf/c2-11.pdf

Survey participation form: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_e4ARS8zp1jZzJb0

USDA’s first 2027 dairy outlook projects modest milk production growth, expanding cheese and butter demand, and slightly softer all-milk prices as feed costs and global competition continue shaping the market.

Read Here: https://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/nwiadairyoutlook/2026/05/13/usda-releases-initial-2027-dairy-production-and-price-outlook/