No-Till Farmer and Lessiter Media have announced that Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), will be the supporter and sponsor of the 2026 Conservation Ag Operator Fellowship. 

This year’s Fellowship will follow Watertown, Wis., no-tiller Tony Peirick through a unique year-long content series that includes a deep dive into his management practices throughout 2026 via articles, videos and webinars — all of which will be sponsored by DMI.

DMI is an organization that was created by farmers to build trust and sales of dairy, funded by the nation's nearly 24,000 farm families and those that import dairy into the U.S. 

Support from this organization for this year’s Conservation Ag Operator Fellowship is particularly appropriate because of Peirick’s dairy connection. Peirick farms with his brother, son and nephew in Watertown, Wis., where they oversee a 200-cow dairy operation, grow cash crops on 1,100 acres and provide custom fieldwork for other farmers. A long time no-till operation, Peirick successfully incorporated cover crops and aims to “plant green” whenever possible. He is a frequent presenter on how to make the planting green practice — and the termination of the covers — work in real-world production.

Jacqi Coleman, Senior Vice President of Sustainability Partnerships with DMI shared more info about the organization as well as some insight into why the Conservation Ag Operator Fellowship is a good fit for the organization. 

“We are proud to support the Conservation Ag Fellowship because it highlights real-world leadership in action,” Coleman says. “Showcasing a dairyman who is advancing soil health — and who is willing to openly share his experiences, challenges and progress — creates meaningful learning opportunities for the broader agricultural community. Soil health management in dairy silage systems, with early corn harvests, lower residue levels and regular manure applications, presents unique opportunities and challenges. By supporting this fellowship, we aim to elevate practical examples others can learn from and adapt in their own operations, and to celebrate farmers who are leading with innovation.

“Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) is funded by dairy farmers to increase sales and demand for dairy through research, education and innovation, while maintaining confidence in dairy foods, farms and businesses. Through our sustainability program, we create credible, science-based resources and partnerships that support farmers’ environmental journeys while building trust in dairy as part of a healthy, sustainable food system.”

Launched in 2022 to mark the start of No-Till Farmer's second 50 years of publication, the annual Conservation Ag Operator Fellowship program follows one no-tiller throughout the year. The editors of No-Till Farmer and Cover Crop Strategies return to the Fellow’s farm throughout the year to share the challenges, solutions and real-time decision making needed to make no-till and conservation ag practices work in real-world conditions.

For more information on the program contact No-Till Farmer Managing Editor, Mackane Vogel, at mvogel@lessitermedia.com.