PRO-DAIRY (Cornell)

PRO-DAIRY is Cornell University’s dairy business program, run through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences since 1988. Its job is to help New York dairy farms stay profitable and competitive through applied research, training, and practical tools.

Who it’s for

Dairy farm owners and managers, farm employees, agribusiness professionals, and young people starting out in the dairy industry. If you’re a veteran thinking about buying into a dairy, taking over a family herd, or hiring your first employees, PRO-DAIRY is one of the best places in the state to learn the business side.

What it offers

• Dairy Feeder School: one-day regional trainings each fall on feeding and ration management, offered in English and Spanish.
• Online courses: on-demand courses from basic to advanced dairy management that you can work through on your own schedule.
• Webinars: live sessions in English and Spanish, with recordings you can watch later.
• Junior DAIRY LEADER: a year-long program for young people with hands-on learning, farm tours, and industry networking.
• Dairy Advancement Program: a partnership with state agencies that helps farms improve profitability while protecting soil and water.
• Publications and podcast: The Manager, the e-Leader newsletter, and the monthly Cornell Cow Convos podcast.

How veteran farmers can use it

Many of the skills that carry over from military service, like planning, managing people, and running tight operations, are exactly what PRO-DAIRY’s management training builds on. The recorded webinars and online courses fit around milking and chores, and the Spanish-language options are useful if you’re training a bilingual crew.

PRO-DAIRY training pairs well with financing help. If you’re buying cattle, equipment, or a farm, look at Farm Credit East and the USDA FSA loan programs, which include options for beginning and veteran farmers.

Related dairy organizations

Northeast Dairy Producers Association (NEDPA). For more than 30 years, NEDPA has represented New York’s family dairy farms in Albany and beyond. It works with lawmakers on environmental rules, labor and workforce issues, and animal health, and partners with Cornell and PRO-DAIRY on research and education. Membership connects you with other progressive dairy farmers across the state. Visit nedpa.org →

Northeast Agribusiness & Feed Alliance (NEAFA). NEAFA brings together the feed, seed, fertilizer, finance, veterinary, and transportation businesses that farms depend on. It is the only multi-state association lobbying for agribusiness in the Northeast, and it offers scholarships and internships for students heading into agriculture, along with a New York Dairy Toolbox of resources. Visit northeastalliance.com →

Getting started

1. Visit the PRO-DAIRY website and sign up for the e-Leader newsletter to get training dates.
2. Check the fall schedule for a Dairy Feeder School near you.
3. Talk with the dairy specialist at your county’s Cornell Cooperative Extension office. You can find yours on our regional resource pages.

Visit PRO-DAIRY →

Have a question about getting started in dairy? Contact FVC NY and we’ll point you to the right people.