By Blake Jackson
The 2024 business year proved to be profitable for many New York dairy farms, according to the 2024 Dairy Farm Business Summary (DFBS) Progress Report. Higher earnings were largely driven by strong milk prices, robust component production, and favorable market values for beef cows, beef calves, and dairy replacements. These factors combined to provide a more positive financial outlook for farms participating in the DFBS.
The report also highlights trends related to herd size and milk production among participating farms. The DFBS dataset includes 128 conventional New York dairy operations where dairy remains the primary enterprise, generating at least 85% of total farm revenue from milk, dairy cattle, and calf sales.
Additionally, a subset of 90 farms completed a supplemental survey providing insight into herd management practices and other dairy-specific topics.
Notably, herd sizes continued to grow across the state, reflecting ongoing consolidation trends in the industry. Meanwhile, the cull rate and the ratio of heifers to cows have steadily decreased on average, suggesting improvements in herd longevity and replacement strategies.
Milk productivity also remained strong, with the average pounds of butterfat and protein sold per cow reaching 2,083.
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Categories: New York, Livestock, Dairy Cattle