The U.S. dairy industry is currently operating at a high-stakes crossroads. Traditional production models are being challenged by volatile global markets, shifting consumer demands and the unrelenting pressure of rising input costs. To address these evolving dynamics, the High Plains Dairy Conference will return to Amarillo, Texas, on March 4-5, 2026, serving as a critical epicenter for innovation, strategy and resilience.
Expected to draw approximately 300 industry representatives from across the United States, the event has become a premier hub for the nation’s dairy producers. According to Robert Hagevoort, Ph.D., conference co-coordinator and Extension dairy specialist at New Mexico State University, the 2026 agenda is surgically designed to tackle the industry’s most pressing economic and operational questions.
Technical Depth: The Preconference Intensives
The momentum begins Tuesday, March 3, with a series of specialized preconference workshops that dive deep into the nuts and bolts of dairy management.
Nutrition specialists will gather for a session with the Texas Animal Nutrition Council to explore the role of DCAD in mitigating heat stress-induced leaky gut and optimizing health through the management of subclinical hypocalcemia. Simultaneously, the Dairy Cattle Reproductive Council will host a workshop on targeted reproductive management, emphasizing the better use of available data to drive cow longevity…