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. 





Expansion of (Asian) Longhorned Tick in New York

Last Modified: November 3, 2025
Expansion of (Asian) Longhorned Tick in New York

The Longhorned tick, formerly known as the Asian Longhorned tick, is establishing populations as it moves north and west across the state. This tick has the potential to be lethal to livestock. This articles reviews the newest sightings and what to do if you happen to identify one.


Governor Hochul Announces Two Grant Opportunities

Last Modified: October 13, 2025

Governor Hochul has announced two grant opportunities to help address the impacts of climate change and protect water quality. Funding is available in four tracks: Livestock Management (alternative waste and precision feeding management), Adaptation and Resiliency, Healthy Soils, and Agricultural Forestry Management. Contact your local Soil & Water Conservation office for more information. 


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.






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Upcoming Events

Crops, Cows & Critters - Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Newsletter Sponsorship

December 19, 2025

Our two forms of publications feature research-based and timely information from our four specialists, listed to the right, along with local event notifications and Cornell University outreach. This information is provided to participants who range from dairy, livestock, and field crops producers to agricultural suppliers and consultants.

Weekly Email Update: Shared with 625+ households who have signed up with our program.
Monthly Paper Mailer: To reach our stakeholders and farmers who lack internet access, we send out a monthly mailer where your company's logo and contact information would be featured with a mailing list of 330+ households.

If you sponsor our weekly and monthly publications you reach approximately 955 households.

Visit our website to view our newsletters!

2025 Cornell Food Beverage & Animal Feed Manufacturer Survey

December 19, 2025

Industry and Educational Advocates for New York State's Food, Beverage, and Animal Feed Manufacturing industries:

As you know, NYS has a diverse food and beverage manufacturing industry, in both the types of industries that exist and the wide distribution of firms by scale. Many manufacturing firms have strong backward linkages to agricultural production sectors in the state that support both farm-level and downstream food industry firms and consumers. In collaboration with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, a team from Cornell University's Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management has recently rolled out the 2025 New York State Food, Beverage, and Animal Feed Manufacturer Survey. The industry will benefit from an updated assessment of the industry that informs private and public investments and opportunities to support firm growth and improved profitability. 

Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference

March 6, 2026
Waterloo, NY

Farmers, researchers, educators, and agricultural service providers from across the Northeast are invited to the 2026 Cornell Organic Field Crops & Dairy Conference, held Friday, March 6, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lux Hotel & Conference Center in Waterloo, N.Y.

Co-hosted by New York Soil Health and Cornell CALS, the annual conference brings together leaders in organic grain, dairy, and livestock systems to share practical tools, new research, and farmer-tested strategies to support resilient and profitable organic production.

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