Dairy Farm Business Summary Progress Report Released by Cornell PRO-DAIRY

Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

August 6, 2020

The fourth and final progress report of the Dairy Farm Business Summary has been released for 2019. As dairy businesses across the state continue to analyze their financial and business performance utilizing the Dairy Farm Business Summary and Analysis Program, updated progress of the farm reports are provided to review the changes that have occurred from 2018 to 2019. With 147 farms participating in the DFBS for two years, from 2018 to 2019 the average farm herd size increased 6 percent and milk sold increased 7 percent. Worker equivalents also increased 2 percent leading to an increase of milk sold per worker of 5 percent from 2018 to 2019. Hired labor costs per worker equivalent increased 5 percent, but hired labor costs per cwt remained unchanged as milk sold per worker increased. Net milk price increased 14 percent leading to a net milk income over purchased grain and concentrate per cow increase of 24 percent. Debt coverage ratio increased 86 percent leading to a decrease in farm debt per cow of 5 percent. If you are interested in participating in the Dairy Farm Business Summary Program contact Katelyn by calling 716-640-0522. 




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Upcoming Events

Silvopasture on a Shoestring

October 7, 2025
Franklinville, NY

Join Joshua Greene, Director of Education at Trees For Graziers, Jonathan Bates, Statewide Agroforestry Educator, and Lynn Bliven, owner of Wild Geese Farm for a full day training event that will include classroom and hands-on sessions. The focus will be on DIY silvopasture projects on small grazing farms. We will address the practical considerations of tree establishment, protection, and maintenance while learning how silvopasture can help address your farm's resource concerns and enhance livestock grazing.

View Silvopasture on a Shoestring Details

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

Over the past three years, Cornell Cooperative Extension has worked with nearly 40 small farmers across NYS to gather information on the true costs of raising broilers (meat chickens) on pasture. This presentation is a summary of the findings of this research project. 

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

Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - East Aurora

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

This workshop will explain why regularly testing fecal egg counts can help you with understanding your animals' parasite loads and dewormer resistance. Attendees have the opportunity to prepare and evaluate fresh fecal samples under the microscope and practice interpretations.

View Fecal Egg Count Mobile Workshop - East Aurora Details

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. 

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