Author: Sam McNeill
Major Program: Dairy
Production from 53,000 dairy cows generated over 1 billion pounds of milk and over $176 million ($3332 per cow) in 2018, placing the industry as the fourth highest livestock enterprise that contributes to Kentucky’s agricultural economy. Dairy production is highly dependent on a reliable energy source and requires electricity to run pumps and motors to milk cows, transport and cool milk, and provide lighting and ventilation for milk parlors and loafing barns. In 2017-2018 Cooperative
Author: Donna Amaral-Phillips
Reduced milk and salvage dairy cow prices, caps placed on marketable milk volumes, increasing milk hauling costs, and increasing input costs have strained cash flow on many dairy businesses. Dairy producers have already trimmed expenses in obvious areas, such as feed, and restructured debt, if possible. To facilitate further improvements in financial efficiency, producers need to examine if financial improvements can be made in the replacement dairy heifer enterprise. Costs associate
Author: Will Stallard
Historically Lincoln County has had a long history of family dairy farms. With younger generations moving away from the family farm and a tough milk industry the family dairy farms have declined. According to Kentucky Milk Safety Branch and Kentucky Department of Agriculture as of April 2018 there were 32 active milk permits in Lincoln County. Many of those dairies in Lincoln County are Mennonite or Amish families that choose not to use modern technology like cell phones or internet. The Univers
