Undoubtedly, the next generation plays a critical role in the future of the dairy industry, but with lackluster milk prices and ongoing challenges, it’s a daunting job. Two young dairy producers from opposite corners of the U.S. share what excites them the most about the future of the industry, what keeps them up at night and what tools and technologies they are leaning into to help propel their dairy operations forward.
Welcome Tradition and Transition
For Joanna Shipp, a seventh-generation dairy farmer from southwest Va., dairy farming is a rich tapestry interwoven with tradition, innovation and a deep sense of legacy. Shipp farms alongside her father, Laird Bowman, where they milk 225 cows and farm 1,000 acres.
Despite initially pursuing a career in veterinary microbiology with the Department of Agriculture, Shipp felt a pull back to the farm, guided by a desire for a more connected and family-oriented lifestyle.
“While I’m the seventh-generation dairy farmer, I never felt any pressure from my family to come back to the family farm,” Shipp says, sharing she felt farm life would offer more balance and flexibility to help raise a young family.
Navigate Challenges in a Dynamic Industry
From labor shortages to increasing operational costs and the ever-fluctuating milk price, Shipp openly admits the challenges of being a dairy farmer can feel like a lot at times.
“Post COVID, we were faced with labor challenges, and that felt draining and overwhelming at times,” she says.
Although, Shipp notes future land availability is the concern that worries her the most.
“The older generations of landowners are dying, and those inheriting the land did not grow up on the land and are OK with selling it to the highest bidder,” she says.
Losing any farmland ultimately impacts their cattle’s feed source, as well as limiting where they can haul their farm’s manure. Despite her concerns, Shipp remains optimistic when it comes to dairy’s future.
Incorporating technology excites Shipp. Earlier this year, she received a Southeast Business grant for precision technology that helped them implement cow activity collars for their entire milking herd.
“I’m hoping the activity system is going to give that next bump in improvement for our herd,” she says. “It is another tool to improve how we care for our cattle.”
Shipp also gets excited talking about milking via robots down the road, noting their parlor has aged itself and local labor is hard to come by.
“In my mind, we will eventually milk with robots,” she says. “We currently milk in a double-eight herringbone with weigh jars that was built in 1972. My grandfather built it, and it has milked a lot cows, but I don’t see that as my future. I just don’t think it will be economically sustainable for us to continue to milk that way down the road.”
Lead with Purpose and Passion
Shipp’s dedication extends beyond the cow barns. Through her involvement in various leadership roles, including being chair of the National Dairy Board, she exemplifies unwavering passion for the industry and commitment to shaping its future through innovation. It’s easy to see why she serves as a beacon of inspiration for the next generation of dairy farmers.
“I believe we’re stronger when we work together,” she says, explaining that her father provided space for her to get involved in the dairy industry when she came back to the family operation. “He allowed me to go to Young Cooperator events and other dairy industry events and stayed home and work.”
As Shipp embarks on her travels serving on national dairy boards, she remains steadfast in her belief in the industry’s resilience and potential for growth. With a keen eye on emerging consumer trends, sustainability initiatives and technological advancements, she envisions a future where dairy farming continues to thrive while meeting the evolving needs of the modern consumer.
“I’m really excited about the momentum of dairy with the shift to more innovation and all the new processing coming online across the country,” she says. “Milk is having a renaissance with innovation and that makes me excited for dairy’s future.”
When it comes to sustainability, Shipp also gets excited. She doesn’t take for granted that her farm originated in 1839 and the goal has always been to take better care of the land than it was left.
“We are always looking at ways to improve how we care for our cattle and for our land,” she says. “This is nothing new.”
Become and Expert in Your Field
Out west in Idaho’s Magic Valley, second-generation dairy farmer Alan Branch’s journey back to his family farm was also not direct. After high school, Branch did mission work in Honduras for a couple of years where he learned Spanish. He eventually got his bachelor’s degree in ag education and agronomy, taught high school ag for a couple of years and then worked as an agronomist before returning home in 2015 after his family purchased a second farm.
Branch says he wanted to become the best dairy producer and found that encircling himself with peers and getting involved in the industry helped him fulfill that goal.
“Become an expert in your field, continue to learn and then get involved in areas that are important to you,” he says.
Branch serves on the Idaho Dairyman Association’s board of directors and AgWest Farm Credit advisory board and is involved in his church.
“Rubbing my shoulders with great dairy producers and learning from them is part of our success,” says Branch, who farms alongside his father and brother-in-law. The family milks 1,200 cows, operates a 4,000-head feedyard, farms 3,500 acres of irrigated ground and just closed on purchasing a second 1,000-cow neighboring dairy.
Branch says his motivation comes easily, as he just looks at his four children.
“I’ve been blessed tremendously by my dad, who is a first-generation dairy farmer,” he says. “The next generation is a big motivation. Our employees are also a motivation for us. They are part of our community and are also supporting their families.”
Don’t Stay Stagnate
While Branch is a generally optimistic person, like other dairy producers, he has worries that mount on his shoulders. Like many producers out west, his No. 1 worry is water availability.
“The aquifers this year look really good,” he says. “Although there are years that do not have this outlook.”
“Staying relevant in Idaho means you must be able to compete. Often that means expanding, but it doesn’t always have to mean more cows. You must keep an open eye to capitalize on opportunities,” he says. “It might be figuring out how to get the extra pound of milk or just how to improve in general. I feel that if you are not improving, if you are staying stagnant, then you are planning to terminate your business.”
Branch milks his cows in a double-15 parlor and has a dry lot facility. Before deciding to purchase a second dairy, the Branch family was planning on building a rotary parlor. Now that decision is put on the back burner, although technology is used in various corners of their Idaho dairy.
Their farm’s irrigation pivots are connected to a satellite that can move, speed up and slowdown, which has created a lot of efficiencies that have reduced labor. The operation also uses dairy management and feed software technology. He notes they are not early adopters of technology but take time to analyze whether a new investment has a solid ROI and makes sense for their business.
“We’ve grown quite a bit in the past 10 years,” he says. “We try to capitalize on opportunities presented to us.”
The Branch family also incorporates their beef-on-dairy calves as a solid income source. Instead of putting those calves through their feedlot, they sell them soon after birth.
“For now, this method makes sense, but we have to keep an eye on the future and reevaluate as needed.”
Despite low milk prices and high input costs, Branch remains optimistic about the dairy industry.
“We produce a wholesome product that consumers want,” he says.
While both producers share numerous challenges that face their operations, in general, they are optimistic about the future. Being a next gen farmer motivates them to remember their rich legacy but also to keep an eye on the future and provide an opportunity to keep their farms in business, noting flexibility and adaptability are key.
