What did dairy checkoff achieve in 2025—and where is the industry headed next? In this episode of Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast, dairy farmer and DMI Chair Marilyn Hershey sits down with DMI President and CEO Barb O'Brien to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the opportunities shaping dairy's future.

From record-breaking exports and rising consumer demand for protein to cutting-edge science and new product innovation, O'Brien and Hershey reflect on 2025. Unpack how checkoff investments are driving growth, building trust and how dairy can help be a solution for health, sustainability and modern lifestyles.

Listen now to hear how your checkoff is building momentum and creating new opportunities for dairy.

To learn more about the national dairy checkoff and your local dairy checkoffs, please visit dairycheckoff.com.

Host & Guest:

· Host: Marilyn Hershey, Pennsylvania dairy farmer and Chair of Dairy Management Inc.

· Guest: Barb O'Brien, President and CEO of Dairy Management Inc.

DMI's Kuda Lamin-Bangura, Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs, and Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs at the National Dairy Council, chat with DMI's Scott Wallin about what the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which strongly affirm dairy's role as an essential part of a healthy diet, recognizing milk, cheese, and yogurt at all fat levels—including whole milk—as beneficial.

Kuda and Katie also talk about the impact of the signing of the "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids" act after being signed into law by President Trump, and what effect it could have on school lunch programs.

To learn more about the national dairy checkoff and your local dairy checkoffs, please visit dairycheckoff.com.

Host & Guest:

• Host: Scott Wallin, Vice President of Farmer Communications & Media Relations, Dairy Management Inc.
• Guest: Kuda Lamin-Bangura, Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs, National Dairy Council
• Guest: Katie Bambacht, Vice President of Nutrition Affairs, National Dairy Council

In this episode of Your Dairy Checkoff Podcast, economist Dr. Oral Capps of Texas A&M University breaks down more than a decade of independent research measuring the impact of the dairy checkoff. Speaking from the 2025 Joint Annual Meeting, Dr. Capps shares how checkoff investments across food service partnerships, fluid milk innovation, whole-fat dairy science and exports are delivering strong, measurable returns for U.S. dairy farmers.

He explains the rigorous, peer-reviewed process behind his analysis, the role of third-party credibility and why programs like lactose-free milk, whole milk, butter and product innovation have contributed to a turnaround in fluid milk consumption. Dr. Capps also offers a farmer-focused perspective on what the checkoff means for the all-milk price and what the industry could look like without these efforts.

This is a revealing look at the data, the methodology and the real-world outcomes demonstrating that checkoff investments are paying off—and strengthening dairy's future.

To learn more about the national dairy checkoff and your local dairy checkoffs, please visit dairycheckoff.com.

Host & Guest

Host: Scott Wallin, Vice President of Farmer Communications & Media Relations, Dairy Management Inc.

Guest: Dr. Oral Capps, Executive & Regents Professor, Texas A & M University