The Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center hosted its Spring 2025 planning meeting in early May in Brookings, South Dakota. The two-day event brought together members of the operational advisory committee, farmers, processors, and Midwest Dairy staff.
The meeting began on May 7 with a tour of the new pilot plant at South Dakota State University, followed by a networking dinner. On May 8, the group received updates from Dr. Jayendra Amamcharla, DMI, and Midwest Dairy. DMI presented on Dairy Research Needs and Opportunities, while Midwest Dairy staff shared insights on Consumer Needs Driving Growth.
The meeting continued with two breakout sessions on Consumer Solutions and Industry Solutions. Following the breakouts, attendees reconvened to discuss key takeaways and align on research priorities. The governing board ensures that all research aligns with DMI’s national research priorities, benefits the dairy industry, and matches faculty expertise and university resources.
We look forward to welcoming everyone to the MDFRC Annual Meeting, July 30–31 in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Annual Meeting will include evaluation and scoring of research proposals for the upcoming funding cycle. Excitement is building around the ideas already coming in, and there is much to look forward to for 2025.
For more information about the Midwest Dairy Foods Research Center, visit https://midwestdairy.umn.edu/.