Dairy

DairyDairy is the leading agricultural industry in New York State, and the state ranks third in the country for milk production. Our five counties in southwestern New York form an especially vibrant dairy region, with over 680 dairy farms of many different sizes and production systems. 

The SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program assists dairy farmers by providing business management, forage production, and dairy management support. Our Dairy Management Specialist offers assistance with calf and heifer management, reproductive management, dairy records analysis, herd health, nutrition, and facilities. 





Relevant Events

Dairy Systems and Technology Showcase

November 4, 2025
South Dayton, NY

Animal Mortality Composting Demo

November 6, 2025 : Animal Mortality Composting Demo
Brant, NY

Grants & Incentives for New York Agriculture

Last Modified: September 22, 2025

By Farm Credit East

There are a number of grants and incentives available for Northeast agriculture businesses, but learning about their availability and navigating the application process can be a challenge. To help with this, Farm Credit East has released an update to its report identifying federal, regional and state grants, loan guarantees, and other incentives available to assist Northeast producers of all types and sizes.

This post is an excerpt from the document, focusing on funding opportunities available in New York. Find a full list of opportunities, including sector-specific opportunities for states including, but not limited to New York, see here.


Budgeting and proposing operational changes to or with senior management

Last Modified: September 9, 2025

By Jason Karszes

On more and more dairy farms every year, employees play integral roles in day-to-day operations, decision making, and problem solving. In these roles, ideas for changes to operations and for capital investments are generated. While these ideas might be quite important to the middle manager for their area, across the farm other opportunities in support of the overall priorities and mission of the farm also need to be considered. 

Proposing change to the leadership of the farm, or as part of the leadership team, is typically an essential step to improve farm operations. Developing proposals in support of the change can help with identifying all the potential risks and returns and decision-making by the senior management team.  Several key areas to address in the proposal are laid out below. 


Udder Trouble in the Fall

Katie Callero, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: September 8, 2025
Udder Trouble in the Fall

Fall weather can bring daily temperature fluctuations that can affect your cow's udder health. Check out this article to learn more so your farm doesn't fall into "udder trouble". 


Sharing PRO-DAIRY's Dairy Market Watch resource

Kate McDonald Polakiewicz, Farm Business Management
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: September 2, 2025
Sharing PRO-DAIRY's Dairy Market Watch resource

In case you aren't aware of this resource, PRO-DAIRY's Dairy Market Watch provides monthly information and analysis of Northeast dairy market trends. Just released are the July 2025 data.


Welcoming Kate, our Farm Business Management Specialist

Kate McDonald Polakiewicz, Farm Business Management
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: August 21, 2025
Welcoming Kate, our Farm Business Management Specialist

Kate McDonald Polakiewicz has joined our team as Farm Business Management Specialist and will be offering programming in financial management, production economics, business planning, and market analysis. 


Guidance for Manure Applications on Prevented Planting Acres

Last Modified: August 11, 2025

Many acres across New York were unable to be planted to corn, soybeans or new perennial forages due to extended wet conditions during this spring's planting season, resulting in several crop insurance claims. Check out this guidance for manure applications on prevented planting acreage for farms under CAFO permit and/or following a CNMP.


What's Moo with Cornell Research: Colostrum

Katie Callero, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: August 8, 2025
What's Moo with Cornell Research: Colostrum

Check out what's 'moo' from the Cornell Vet School dairy research team! This article summarizes their two recently published articles on colostrum in the Journal of Dairy Science Communications.


Pricing Corn Silage - Preliminary Fall 2025 Estimates

Last Modified: July 28, 2025
Pricing Corn Silage - Preliminary Fall 2025 Estimates

You might think it's too early to talk about corn silage harvest, but this season's challenges have many re-evaluating plans. Preliminary estimates from John Hanchar, NWNYDLFC, put the corn silage price at approximately $63 per ton. These early estimates can support informed decision-making as cropping and forage strategies shift.


Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Lab - A Resource for NYS Livestock Farmers

Amy Barkley, Team Leader & Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: July 14, 2025
Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Lab - A Resource for NYS Livestock Farmers

As part of its mission, Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) offers valuable diagnostic services to New York State livestock producers. They can evaluate freshly dead animals, blood, and tissue samples to determine the cause of illness or death in your herd or flock.


Reflections from the 2025 American Dairy Science Association Conference

Katie Callero, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: July 7, 2025
Reflections from the 2025 American Dairy Science Association Conference

Take a moment to read my reflections from the 2025 ADSA conference, where I explored research on calf health, robotic milking, and farmer-led education—and how these ideas and more could benefit dairy farms in Southwest NY.


Meet John, our Team's Summer Field Technician

Last Modified: June 25, 2025
Meet John, our Team's Summer Field Technician

We're excited to have John on our team for this summer as we work around the region! If you see him out and about, don't hesitate to say hello!


2025 American Dairy Science Association Poster Presentation

Katie Callero, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: June 18, 2025
2025 American Dairy Science Association Poster Presentation

Check out the poster that I will be presenting at the 2025 ADSA conference. 






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Field Crops

Field Crops

Dairy

Dairy

Business

Business

Livestock

Livestock

Grains

Grains

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Upcoming Events

Silvopasture on a Shoestring

October 7, 2025
Franklinville, NY

Optimizing the Economic Return of Pasture-Raised Slow-Growth and Conventional Broilers - Webinar

October 15, 2025
November 13, 2025
: Optimizing the Economic Return of Pasture-Raised Slow-Growth and Conventional Broilers - Webinar

Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - East Aurora

October 21, 2025 : Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - East Aurora
East Aurora, NY

Announcements

Herbicide Resistance Screening

We are screening weed species for herbicide resistance.

Species we are looking for include, but aren't limited to:
  • Tall Waterhemp
  • Palmer Amaranth
  • Marestail
  • Redroot Pigweed
  • Foxtails
  • Common Lambsquarters
  • Common Ragweed

Reach out to Katelyn Miller at 716-640-2047 or km753@cornell.edu for more information.