At Penn State Extension’s Women in Dairy Conference held on Nov. 19, Joanna Shipp, a seventh-generation dairy farmer from Virginia and chair of the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board, reflected on what the next 20 years of dairy could look like in the U.S.

Greg and Lynn Gardner purchased the ranch in 1990. Today, along with their daughter Brittany and her husband, Wacey Cathey, they manage a cow-calf business on approximately 28,500 acres, which includes their deeded land along with neighboring private, state and tribal leases.

For those of us in dairy, it’s hard to imagine not knowing where your milk comes from. But as younger generations become more removed from agriculture, most kids think milk and dairy foods come from a refrigerator and have no idea the care and commitment dairy farm families and others in the value chain put into bringing them to the marketplace.

Last year marked an unexpected, yet fulfilling, time for U.S. dairy exports as demand for U.S. product soared in 2024, reaching record levels. Such success is due in part to established and emerging global markets for U.S. dairy.

It’s commonly known in the cattle industry that BRD is the most costly illness affecting cattle in North America. Despite extensive research and treatment efforts over the years, it continues to lead to high rates of sickness and death among cattle.

I felt I needed to discuss the role a small producer plays in the beef industry’s economic impact, both directly and indirectly, in shaping the future of the beef business and the industries that support it – and, maybe more importantly, how the small producer provides a social and cultural fabric for many Americans.

Sustainability seems to be the word of the decade lately, especially in the agriculture industry.

Hansen Dairy’s "A Very Dairy Christmas" is a holiday event like no other, offering families a unique blend of festive cheer and farm life. Set in a cozy winter wonderland on Hansen’s dairy farm, this event goes beyond the typical holiday experience.