By Blake Jackson
Julia Smith ’99 spent nearly two decades as an agricultural education teacher before transitioning into the New York dairy processing sector. Over the years, Smith noticed a significant disconnect: young people are eager to work in food production but often lack knowledge on how to enter the field, while dairy processors struggle to find enough qualified applicants to fill expanding roles.
“People walk into McDonald’s and Walmart all the time, so they understand that there’s work there. People don’t often walk into dairy processing plants, so there’s an unawareness of this opportunity,” Smith said.
“For an entry-level job at one of our plants, you can walk in with a high school diploma and earn $22-23 an hour with full benefits and retirement to start with. We just need more people to walk in.”
Smith is the director of learning and development for Upstate Niagara Cooperative, one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the Northeast, and she is a key partner in Cornell University’s dairy workforce training initiatives.
Cornell, as New York’s land-grant university, has long supported the dairy industry, but recent investments in dairy processing - totaling $3 billion in new or expanding facilities - have created an urgent need for skilled workers.
“Because of our very close connections with the dairy industry in New York state, we had been hearing from lots of processors for some time that workforce was a huge problem for them,” said Nicole Martin, assistant research professor of dairy foods microbiology.
New York leads the nation in yogurt production, producing more than 800 million pounds annually, while fluid milk consumption declines nationally. Companies such as Chobani, Fairlife, Cayuga Milk, and Byrne Dairy are expanding operations, increasing the demand for trained personnel.
Cornell’s Dairy Foods Extension trains about 1,000 people annually, but to grow the entry-level workforce, it partners with processors like Upstate Niagara, Stewart’s, and Chobani to offer three-day bootcamps. Participants complete online lessons covering dairy science and sanitation, then engage in hands-on tours and Q&A sessions.
“In many cases, the dairy processing plant is the biggest employer in the area, but nobody knows about it,” said Hannah Moyal, workforce support specialist.
“I try to find people looking for work and teach some foundational skills that they need to get started, but a lot of it is just letting people know that this career path exists.”
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Photo Credit: gettyimages-digitalvision
Categories: New York, Education, Livestock, Dairy Cattle