New York state is recognized as a great place for dairy production and for this reason has attracted a level of new investment in processing not seen in several decades. The investment is creating a lot of excitement and will bring significant economic benefits to rural and urban areas.

Why dairy growth in N.Y.? The state benefits from exceptional dairy farmers and processors, strong industry support from service providers and suppliers, and a top-tier research, education, and extension network. N.Y. has a great climate for cows, including plentiful natural rainfall, with water resources to produce crops, water the cows, sanitize milking systems, and meet requirements of dairy processors. N.Y. also has a long history of dairy processing and a strong base of skilled dairy plant workers. Further, N.Y. is close to tens of millions of consumers, many of whom have become familiar with the range of benefits of dairy in a healthy diet.

As new and expanded dairy plants come online and demand for milk increases, many dairy farms are growing or considering growth. A number of issues need to be considered with this growth. Keeping the dairy operation in balance is critical, including feed production, land base, work force, and finances, to name a few.

This Manager issue features a series of articles written by PRO-DAIRY specialists and Cornell University colleagues to help producers sort through several key topics as they consider expansion.

This article appeared in PRO-DAIRY's The Manager in November 2025. To learn more about Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY, visit PRO-DAIRY.