At Perkins Twin Creek Farm Inc. in Wolcottville, Indiana, black-and-white Holsteins line up to munch on piles of a bespoke bran-colored feed. This isn't the usual cow chow made using commoditized soybeans trucked in from afar. Instead, it's an upgraded mix including heart-healthy high-oleic soybeans that were grown in a field right outside the barn, then roasted whole and ground just steps away.

High-oleic soybeans gain traction as dairy feed, giving US growers a new market as exports get caught in trade war. The shift represents a significant change in how dairy operations source nutrition for their herds, moving toward locally produced, specialized crops that offer both nutritional benefits and supply chain resilience. Farmers are finding that the richer milk output and cheaper feed costs create a compelling economic case for adoption.

By Erin Ailworth and Michael Hirtzer, August 10, 2026 at 10:30 AM UTC.