Forage Trials Reveal Key to Dairy Profit

By Blake Jackson

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has released results from a new forage research project showing how the local environment affects forage quality and dairy farm profitability. Conducted by Cornell PRO-DAIRY’s Joe Lawrence, the project tested field-grown corn, soybean, and alfalfa at two sites in western and eastern Northern New York.

Data showed how crop performance varied across locations due to environmental factors like precipitation, heat units, and pest pressures. The team used the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System to analyze forage samples and develop cow diets based on location-specific forages.

Results revealed that western New York forage supported a 97-pound daily milk yield per cow, while the eastern location only reached 88.4 pounds. This difference was caused by lower forage nutritional value in the east, leading to higher feed costs and reduced output.

The western location also showed a $1.06 increase in Income Over Feed Cost (IOFC) compared to the eastern location. This metric combines milk income and feed cost, making it a key tool for assessing dairy profitability.

"This pilot project has begun the process of developing a system that will dairy farmers more efficiently utilize farm-grown forages by providing data that reflects growing environment impact on both plant performance and forage quality factors. The ultimate purpose is helping dairies understand the impact of the growing season on forage nutritional value and effectively balance their individual farms' dairy cow diets for optimal milk production and farm sustainability," said Lawrence.

The study used multiple factors, including fibre digestibility and climate data, to understand how forage interacts with cow nutrition. This method can help farmers optimize cow diets more efficiently.

The project continues with funding from NNYADP and the New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association, with support from the University of Vermont.

This research lays the foundation for a statewide forage performance network to help dairy farmers boost milk production while managing feed costs.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-ahavelaar