The Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY program is proud of its vital role in leading education and applied research in support of New York’s dairy industry. We are at an unprecedented time for our industry, with numerous dairy processing plant expansions completed or underway and generational investments in new processing plants that will ramp up their capacity over the next several years. We need to help our dairy producers take advantage of these opportunities in ways that make sense for them and their businesses. We are confident that we have the ability to take advantage of this opportunity because we have: Forward-looking farmers who have a proven-record of innovating and thriving amidst constant change, an active and strong agribusiness sector, a skilled team of Cornell Cooperative Extension specialists that surpasses any others in the country, a talented PRO-DAIRY statewide specialist program that works in collaboration with other faculty programs at Cornell, the only Ivy League and Land- Grant university with a strong mission to educate and support agricultural communities via programs that create new knowledge and new practices.

The educational programming offered through PRO-DAIRY and the independent and collaborative applied research conducted by our specialists is top-notch. This report highlights the many ways that PRO-DAIRY serves as a valued resource for our dairy farm businesses. PRO-DAIRY hones the management skills of our dairy farm owners and managers, enhances the technical skills of dairy farm employees, and provides technical expertise to our state’s dairy farms in many important areas including farm business management, environmental stewardship, forage and crop production, cow health and management, dairy facilities and dairy systems engineering, and through youth development programs that enhance knowledge of careers in dairy and attract the next generation. Additionally, our strong and productive partnerships with agribusiness and extension professionals help all of us to grow and improve in support of the industry every day.

Thomas R. Overton, Ph.D., Director, PRO-DAIRY Karl Czymmek, J.D., Associate Director, PRO-DAIRY