Recap: 2026 ODPA Annual Meeting
More than 130 dairy farmers, industry partners and agricultural leaders gathered February 17 for the 2026 ODPA Annual Meeting with a clear and encouraging message: dairy is growing — and Ohio has opportunity ahead.
ODPA CEO Scott Higgins brought together experts across nutrition, markets, research and policy to help connect the dots between today’s trends and the future of Ohio’s dairy industry. Throughout the day, three themes emerged: dairy is a growing food category, milk components are reaching historic levels and Ohio has opportunity to expand both on-farm production and in-state processing.
Dairy Is a Growing Food Category
Katie Brown, National Dairy Council, shared updates on dairy’s expanding
role in health and wellness conversations, including strong inclusion in the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and evolving school milk policies. Together, these signals reinforce dairy’s place as a nutrient-dense food across all life stages and help frame a positive outlook for long-term demand.
Market trends discussed throughout the program echoed that momentum. Retail dairy sales surpassed $80 billion in 2025 and volume gains across nearly all categories — a signal of continued consumer demand for dairy products.
Historic Growth in Milk Components
Corey Geiger, CoBank, explained how butterfat and protein production continue to outpace overall milk volume, reshaping how milk is valued and processed. Advances in genetics, genomics and herd management are driving higher component levels and influencing how producers position their operations for the future. Click here to view his presentation.
Geiger also pointed to expanding processing investment and Ohio’s milk deficit as signs of opportunity for future growth, particularly as production, infrastructure and policy align. Higgins reinforced that understanding these market shifts is key as ODPA works with members and policymakers to create an environment that supports responsible dairy growth in Ohio.
Ohio Has Opportunity to Grow
Brian Wise, Ohio Department of Agriculture, provided an update on Ohio’s processing landscape, while Stephen Cain, Hartman-Analytics, shared findings from an economic contribution analysis of Ohio’s dairy industry commissioned by the ODPA and the American Dairy Association Mideast to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the state’s dairy sector. Phase one of the project shows dairy farming supports nearly 11,300 jobs, more than $2.7 billion in economic output and roughly $280 million in annual tax revenue statewide, underscoring dairy’s importance to Ohio communities.
Cain also highlighted a growing concern: restrictive regulations that limit milk production growth could impact Ohio’s competitiveness over time as processing investment expands in neighboring states. The analysis reinforces ODPA’s focus on pairing responsible farm growth with expanded in-state processing capacity — a strategy aimed at maintaining a strong and economically viable dairy industry in Ohio. Additional phases of the project will continue building the data needed to inform policy discussions and support industry growth moving forward.
Research and Industry Collaboration
Maurice Eastridge, Ohio State University, provided updates on university and dairy program initiatives. Jason Hartschuh and Chanhee Lee, Ohio State University, presented research on managing corn silage deoxynivalenol and high oleic acid soybeans in dairy rations - both projects were supported through the Ohio Dairy Research Fund, which is managed by ODPA.
Dr. Leah Dorman provided an update on the Protect One Health in Ohio (Protect OHIO) initiative, a statewide effort focused on strengthening the rural veterinary workforce and supporting disease preparedness across Ohio’s livestock sector.
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy also made a brief appearance, offering remarks on the importance of agriculture and engaging with dairy farmers in attendance.
ODPA extends a sincere thank you to the sponsors who helped make the 2026 Annual Meeting possible. A photo gallery from the event is available below to revisit highlights from the day.