PRO-DAIRY at Cornell

09/25/2026

Manure is central to nutrient recycling on dairy farms, but as herds consolidate, that system faces new strain, longer hauling distances and less land per cow to apply nutrients to.

In a newly published article, PRO-DAIRY specialist Jason Oliver outlines where advanced manure treatment technology stands today. He covers primary separation methods such as screw presses, chemically enhanced fine solids separation for phosphorus recovery, ultrafiltration systems capable of removing up to 95% of total phosphorus, and vermifiltration for nitrogen capture.

Oliver notes these systems remain largely emerging practices, but innovation over the past decade has made them increasingly feasible for large, consolidated dairy operations. He also cautions farmers to weigh costs, energy demands and marketability of treated nutrient streams before investing.

Read the full article:

Manure is the linchpin of biocircularity in dairy production systems, with the nutrients in cow manure recycled to the land to produce crops that are utilized as animal feed.

09/24/2026

What are Cornell animal science students up to, and what are their plans after graduation? The 40th episode of "Cornell Cow Convos" tackles those questions with several undergraduates.

Katie Callero of the Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops team and Margaret Quaassdorff of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops team interview the students about what they learned in internships this past summer and their career outlook.

Listen to Episode 40: https://soundcloud.com/user-301921459-118136586/episode-40-summer-internship/s-DgiQWI8ozoP

09/11/2026

Determining forage value is one of dairy farming's most debated topics, and Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY forage systems specialist Joe Lawrence says that's for good reason. Forage inputs and yields are harder to measure than grain crops, and there is no traded market price to fall back on.

In his latest column for Hoard's Dairyman, Lawrence breaks down the two main approaches producers use to value forage: the cost-to-grow method, which estimates what it took to produce the crop, and the feed value method, which calculates what it would cost to replace those nutrients with other ingredients. His finding, based on repeated comparisons in a northeastern U.S. context: the feed value approach almost always comes out higher, underscoring the true economic contribution forage makes to the dairy ration.

Read the full column:

Determining the cost of production for forages, particularly silages, and assigning a value to them is a perennial source of discussion and discontent. The inputs and outputs of forage production are traditionally harder to measure than grain crops or oth

09/09/2026

Join the New York Soil Health team for a Field Day on cover crops and reduced tillage, Thursday, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Musgrave Research Farm, 1256 Poplar Ridge Road, Aurora.

The event, part of the 2026 Soil Health Field Days series, will feature a farmer panel, cover crop and zone tillage demonstration plots, soil health trailer demos and a barbecue lunch. CCA credits and 1.5 NYS DEC pesticide applicator credits are available.

Registration is required but free. Sign up at NewYorkSoilHealth.org/events or call 315-252-4171.

Hosted by the Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District, Cornell CALS, the Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab and Cornell Cooperative Extension Cayuga County.

09/04/2026

Congratulations to Cornell's 2026 Junior DAIRY LEADER graduates! This past year, nearly 20 young people ages 16–19 pushed their comfort zones through farm tours, national conferences and hands-on industry immersion, and emerged with sharper leadership, communication and networking skills. As one sponsor said, passion for the dairy industry drives this unmatched program.

From first meeting as strangers in an airport to becoming, in their own words, "one big family," these graduates leave with more than knowledge, they also leave with direction. Many arrived undecided about their futures; most now head toward college focused on agricultural careers, some discovering unexpected interests in genetics, nutrition or communications along the way.

Whether raised on a dairy farm or brand new to the industry, JDL alumni carry forward a shared spark: curiosity, resilience and a readiness to shape dairy's next chapter. Congratulations, Class of 2026. The industry is lucky to have you.

For students not yet old enough for Junior DAIRY LEADER, or looking for a broader introduction to animal agriculture, Cornell also offers the NYS Animal and Agriculture Leadership Program, open to high schoolers entering at least their sophomore year with an interest in animal science careers and post-secondary agricultural education. Applications for the 2026–2027 class are open now, with registration closing September 8.

https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2025/08/junior-dairy-leader-graduation-2026

09/03/2026

Congratulations to Walnut Ridge Dairy and Eileen Jensen, executive director of the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, recipients of the 2026 PRO-DAIRY Agriservice Awards!

Presented during the Dairy Day Recognition and Awards Ceremony at the Great New York State Fair, the awards recognize outstanding contributions to New York agriculture and sustained support of Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY program. Karl Czymmek, PRO-DAIRY associate director, and state Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, handed out the honors.

Walnut Ridge Dairy has opened its doors for years to applied research, education and on-farm demonstrations. Jensen has led efforts to connect farmers, industry professionals and consumers through outreach on modern food production and animal agriculture.

"This year's recipients represent the strong partnerships that help drive innovation, education and advancement across New York's dairy industry," said Thomas Overton, director of Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY.

Photo credit: Allyson Jones-Brimmer, Northeast Dairy Producers Association

https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2026/09/pro-dairy-agriservice-awards-2026

09/02/2026

Join CCE and partners for a Precision Manure Field Day on Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Joleanna Holsteins, 309 Covered Bridge Road, Unadilla.

The day begins with registration at 10 a.m. under the tent, followed by sessions on the value and variability of manure for corn and hay crops, manure injection, and precision agriculture technology in manure application. A producer panel will share updates one year after adopting manure injection in stubble and sod fields.

A beef barbecue lunch will be served in the tent, followed by manure gas and confined spaces training, manure truck safety training, and live manure injection and semi-solid demonstrations, including coulter injectors in stubble and sod.

Cost is $10 per person. RSVP by Sept. 4 to Donna Wood at 607-865-7090 or [email protected].

This event is supported by the Conservation Innovation Grants program at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

08/29/2026

Please join us in welcoming Cesar Matamoros, Ph.D., to Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY. In this newly created position as precision dairy nutrition specialist, Matamoros will work with dairy farms across New York to increase production and nutrient use efficiency, supporting the state's growing demand for milk and milk components.

Matamoros brings hands-on experience from his prior role as Northeast U.S. dairy technical lead for a national dairy nutrition company, where he worked with farms of all sizes, nutritionists, and feed mills throughout the region. Raised in Honduras, he brings a global perspective on dairy production systems and a strong commitment to training farm teams at every level.

He earned his B.S. in agronomy from Zamorano University and his Ph.D. in ruminant nutritional physiology and lactation biology from Penn State, and completed USDA-funded fellowships researching ways to increase milk fat production.

https://cals.cornell.edu/news/2026/08/cesar-matamoros-joins-pro-dairy

08/27/2026

New episode of Cornell Cow Convos: What happens to a dairy farm when wildfire smoke fills the air? Hosts Alanna Homan and Margaret Quaassdorff talk with Dr. Amy Skibiel of the University of Idaho about protecting cattle, employees and farm operations during a smoke event.

Cornell Cow Convos is a monthly podcast from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell PRO-DAIRY. New episodes post the last Thursday of each month.

https://soundcloud.com/user-301921459-118136586/e-39-what-should-we-do-about/s-CeSxjtuMHVp?si=46370def4d3048dba0fffbb02dc50827&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing