State of the Dairy Industry

With prices experiencing a downturn and input costs high producers have been quick to search out alternative revenue to help their operations turn a profit. One method has been to incorporate a beef-on-dairy program.

Ever.Ag Insights president Phil Plourd, says “It is a street fight, in terms of figuring out ways to stay relevant, to get more productive, to stay ahead of the curve to manage risk better.”

Alex Neuenschwander, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, is headed to the Indy 500 winners circle this weekend to hand out the iconic bottle of milk. His secret to success on the farm? Finding efficiency at every level.

2024 started on a downward slope, as year-over-year milk production continued to drop 1.3% in February. The U.S. milking cowherd dropped below year-ago levels each month since June 2023.

Farm Journal’s State of the Dairy Industry 2024 Report surveyed 210 dairy producers throughout the U.S. Our forward-thinking survey asked participants about the challenges they face, along with future opportunities.

Here are a few thoughts on what being prepared might involve from a farm or industry perspective.

As the dairy industry continues to change at lightning speed, Farm Journal recently surveyed producers – asking them about challenges and opportunities that face them, which six leading-edge insights surfaced.