Siska Reece has dreamed about having an on-farm creamery since she was 15 years old. That dream became a reality last summer when her family began bottling A2A2 whole nonhomogenized milk and cream and making ice cream with some of the milk produced on their Idaho dairy farm.

Ranchers shifting from cattle production to other endeavors are driven by many reasons and goals. Operations must have a solid plan backed by knowledgeable direction and commonsense experience for a greater chance of success.

Lisa and Cameron Hodgins own and operate Hodgins Farm near Lenore, Manitoba, and direct market some of their beef, pork, chickens and honey. The cattle operation consists of a commercial cow-calf herd of approximately 125 largely Angus-influenced cows, as well as maintaining approximately 250 grazing yearlings as stockers.

After building a state-of-the-art blueberry processing facility, Breanne Stobbe made her husband, AJ, promise that they wouldn’t undertake another large project for at least one year. As fate would have it, the opportunity to purchase a cheese processing facility would arise one month after the ultimatum was given, and together, they couldn’t say no.

For dairies considering diversification, here are 10 important suggestions to help ensure a smooth and successful roadmap into innovation and diversification.

The high prices of camel milk may make operating a camel dairy seem like a great way to make money. However, the business has challenges beyond those experienced by cattle dairy owners.

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.

At Jer-Lindy Farms, crops are grown, cows are cared for and milk is produced, much like many dairy farms across the nation. In addition to the conventional way of dairying, the Jennissen and Sjostrom families also turn their milk into cheese at the on-farm Redhead Creamery and make whey-based spirits, all while telling their story through public and private on-farm gatherings.

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.

Doing things differently has been the Miller family’s way since the farm’s beginning over a century ago. Started in 1919 with 140 acres, the family now farms over 1,100 acres of owned and leased land as Miller Family Farm, a registered Tennessee Century Farm.