Enhancing New York's dairy industry through education and applied research
For over 35 years PRO-DAIRY has dedicated itself to one goal: To foster a progressive New York state dairy industry through its programming and leadership. Through results-driven education and research, PRO-DAIRY specialists have contributed to the technical knowledge, management skills and economic strength of New York’s dairy industry since 1988.
Progress
The dairy industry is not static, nor is PRO-DAIRY. As New York’s dairy farms have changed over time, so has PRO-DAIRY. The program has added specialists, programs and research that target industry areas and issues important to keeping New York dairies competitive in today’s market-oriented environment. PRO-DAIRY features programs that span the industry, including environmental management; crop, manure and nutrient management; business performance; herd health and management; and youth education.
Profit
While looking forward to where New York’s dairy industry must be to remain competitive, PRO-DAIRY attends to the basics of dairy business profitability. Through programs and research, it targets business management, cow care, nutrition, facilities, dairy replacements and manure management, to name a few.
Partnerships
In today’s business climate, partnerships are essential to success. PRO-DAIRY, a joint venture of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has a long history of partnering with dairy organizations. Key collaborators include dairy producer groups, Cornell Cooperative Extension and numerous agribusiness and state government agencies.
NY Dairy Stats
3,200
dairy farms
630K
cows
5th
nationally in milk production
15B
pounds
of milk annually
$4.1B
(est.)
in gross producer income
PRO-DAIRY mission
Facilitate New York state economic development by increasing the competitiveness and sustainability of New York’s dairy farm businesses through industry-applied research and educational programs that enhance farm profitability while advancing dairy producers and agribusiness professionals’ knowledge, skills and enthusiasm.
PRO-DAIRY programs are well-received by the dairy industry.
Cornell Dairy Farm Business Summary and Analysis Program
125,977 cows, 111 farms (direct PRO-DAIRY contribution)
Cornell Dairy Executive Program Management Symposium
78,514 cows, 56 producers and 92 participants
Dairy Profit Monitor
(monthly benchmarking tool)
125,379 cows (102 dairy farms)
Academy for Dairy Executives
17,280 cows (11 dairy farms, 1 agriservice)
Operations Managers Conference
169,00 cows, 203 attendees
PRO-DAIRY Webinar Series in English and Spanish
4,973 farm employees and other dairy professionals, including previously recorded webinars that continue to be viewed.
PRO-DAIRY online courses
144,767 cows, 142 registrants in 3 courses. 100 % of students would recommend the courses to a colleague.
CAFO Off-Road Show Programs
12 live sites, 467 participants (dairy farmers, contract haulers, staff) representing 80,000 cows.
New York State Corn Silage Hybrid Trials
2018 results presented at various locations and meetings across the state with 1,000 in attendance. Hybrid entries and company participation was strong with 77 hybrids from 17 brands.
Herd Health and Nutrition Conference
(with Northeast Agribusiness and Feed Alliance)
170 total attendees at the New York site, primarily agribusiness professionals representing the majority of the New York dairy industry.
CAFO Engineer Training Program
Continuing education workshops with 32 continuing education certificates given out for 11 training hours to participating engineers.
Northeast Dairy Management Conference
(with Northeast Dairy Producers Association)
399 attendees, 202,736 cows (122 producers), 8,707,563 cows (150 agriservice).
Progressive Dairy Magazine
A16-page “The Manager” insert is circulated to 9,110 farms in the Eastern U.S., plus an additional 3,200 farms in NY and VT.