The U.S. dairy industry is not just a cornerstone of rural America’s economy; it is a microcosm of sustainability efforts that blend environmental stewardship with economic viability. While many discussions on sustainability focus first on environmental impact, profitability and efficiency are equally critical for the long-term viability of dairy farms. At the 2025 Dairy Sustainability Alliance Spring Meeting in Rosemont, Ill., four prominent dairy farmers from various parts of the U.S. offered a window into their daily practices and the challenges they face.
Voices from the Field
Joanna Shipp, a seventh-generation dairy farmer from Virginia, who owns and operates Bowmont Dairy emphasizes the importance of efficiency and cow genetics. With 225 cows on her 1,000-acre farm, Shipp has learned to maximize her resources.
“We had to focus on cow comfort and throughput to increase milk production,” she says. By investing in advancements in cow genetics, Shipp transformed her cows into high-performing athletes, optimizing milk yield and farm efficiency even without expanding livestock numbers.
“The dairy cow really is an elite athlete,” she says. “She shows more performance as we enhance her diet and care.”
Adam Graft, owns and operates Leatherbrook Holsteins LLC., a large dairy in Georgia; he previously practiced veterinary medicine on large dairies in central California for several years. He discusses the environmental benefits derived from increasing milk production per cow.
“Higher producing cows are better environmentally,” he says. “We save resources by getting more milk from fewer cows.”
Graft highlights the necessity of removing stress factors, such as heat and humidity, from the cows’ environment to ensure optimal production.
In Wisconsin, Katy Schultz returned to her family’s 400-cow dairy farm, Tri-Fecta Farms Inc., after working in the dairy industry for seven years to own and operate the family operation with her brother and sister.
“Growing healthy crops to feed to our healthy animals has been key on our farm " Schultz explains. Her family has significantly improved crop efficiency, reducing the amount of land needed to feed their cows from 50% to 36%. She believes that by focusing on overall health, from the soil to the animals to the environment, while managing resources wisely, has made their farm more profitable and sustainable.
Jim Werkhoven, operating Werkhoven Dairy near Seattle, Wash., underscores the role of energy innovation in sustainability. His farm collaborates within the Sno/Sky Ag Alliance to operate an anaerobic digester co-processing cow manure and pre-consumer food waste.
“Capturing methane is proving to be potentially more profitable than milk,” he says, highlighting this technology’s impact on environmental preservation and economic sustainability. This partnership with local Native American tribes and conservation groups underscores the importance of community collaboration in sustainable agriculture.
Community Engagement at Its Core
Schultz discusses the transformative shift in farming mentality with the next generation taking over. When Schultz and her siblings returned to their family farm, they made a conscious decision to alter the narrative from isolation to integration. Their primary goal was to become an active part of their community, breaking down barriers by opening their farm doors to neighbors, schools and local conservation efforts. This intentional community integration manifested through events such as farm tours, 5K races and open markets. By fostering direct communication with their customers, Schultz emphasizes transparency, promising never to lie to them and encouraging open dialogue, even on challenging topics.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it; it was a lot of work,” she says, “but when we opened our own farm market, we knew that this was going to be our ticket, to be able to have a reason to talk to people.”
At Schultz’s farm, a unique sense of identity is established by ensuring all events and projects remain local. Hosting a Wisconsin farm-to-table dinner, where all food is sourced within a 30-mile radius, is just one example of how the farm aims to connect local farmers with community members. Schultz underscores the importance of community involvement, suggesting if a farm were removed from the community without anyone noticing, it signifies a lack of sufficient engagement.
Shipp supports Schultz’s perspective, stressing the importance of farmers’ voices in community matters. Through her involvement in the national dairy check-off program, she highlights the significance of sharing local stories nationwide, strengthening the sense of community within the agricultural industry.
“It’s critical to be local, but we have to amplify those local stories across our whole country and around the world,” Shipp says.
Water Management: A Paramount Concern for Farmers
Water availability and quality present challenges across the country, significantly impacting farming operations. In the southeast, Graft faces an abundance of water, which requires strategic management to ensure efficient usage. By storing water and applying it as needed, he aims to enhance crop yields and minimize costs.
“We generate a lot of water, and one of our new things going forward is we’re trying to build a lot of remote locations and actually store that water for when the crop needs it,” he shares.
In contrast, Schultz, in Wisconsin, acknowledges that while water quality is not an immediate issue, ensuring clean water sources remains a priority. She actively participates in discussions on keeping lakes and rivers pristine, emphasizing the recreational value for residents.
“Really just being able to be at the table and have those conversations of keeping our water sources clean is just as important,” she says.
Werkhoven, from the Pacific Northwest, highlights the role of water quality in maintaining a sustainable ecosystem. His farm’s collaboration with a local tribe on a digester project exemplifies the successful relationships formed through mutual environmental goals. The partnership underscores the importance of interpersonal relationships, emphasizing collaboration over individual agendas.
“Water quality is really important, which means you have to apply fertilizer at agronomical rates at the right time,” he says.
Legacy and Stewardship: A Farmer’s Responsibility
For Shipp, whose farm dates back to 1839, farming transcends property ownership, embodying the responsibility of land stewardship. Her commitment to making informed decisions ensures the preservation of their land for future generations. This is something all farmers feel: a deep commitment to how to better care for their land, cattle and community, to have an opportunity for the next generation to take over and sustain it for the next generation.
In an era where transparency and community engagement are vital, these farmers demonstrate the importance of integration, environmental consciousness and legacy. Through active participation, open dialogue and innovative practices, they strive to build stronger communities and protect the land for future generations.
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