Dairy Leaders Prepare for Joint Annual Meeting
September 2, 2026
Nearly 900 dairy leaders from the National Milk Producers Federation, National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, and United Dairy Industry Association are expected to gather in Florida next month for the Joint Annual Meeting. Themed “U.S. Dairy: Committed. Resilient. Ready,” the event kicks off with NMPF Young Cooperators programming on Oct. 18 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center.
Governance business anchors the front end of the week. The NMPF Board of Directors and Delegates convene Oct. 19 to discuss policy priorities, including agriculture labor reform, dairy nutrition and Federal Milk Marketing Orders. NMPF will also elect its 2027 Board of Directors, Officers and Executive Committee. After a full day of business, attendees will gather at the “Welcome to Florida Reception.”
Joint programming begins Tuesday, Oct. 20 with leadership remarks from DMI’s Marilyn Hershey and Barb O’Brien, followed by NMPF’s Brian Rexing and Gregg Doud. Two rounds of breakout sessions follow, with NMPF-led tracks on agricultural labor and the FARM Program, running alongside DMI’s innovation and reputation breakouts and a sponsored session by Elanco.
Afternoon programming includes two panel discussions – “The Future of Dairy Exports” and “Margins, Markets & Milk Prices: The Year Ahead.” The day wraps up with the Cheese Reception, highlighting 3,000 pounds of cheese from NMPF member cooperatives.
The last day of programming brings keynote speaker David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report to break down the competitive races most likely to determine control of Congress – examining shifting district demographics, candidate recruitment and the national political environment. The event concludes with a panel discussion among leadership from dairy’s policy and promotion organizations.
The full agenda, sponsorship opportunities, and link to register are available here.
