Candid Conversation presents a question-and-answer discussion about the topical issues related to Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) priorities, the agricultural industry, and rural communities. In this edition, Tori Embry, Executive Director of the Kentucky Dairy Development Council (KDDC) discusses the state’s dairy industry and why it is still so important.

KFB: For our readers who may not know you, would you mind sharing a little about your background, on and off the farm, your involvement with KDDC, and when you became the executive director?

TE: I grew up on a small dairy farm in central Kentucky and that love for the cows stuck with me even after the cows were sold. While I worked on my bachelor’s degree, I milked at Eastern Kentucky University’s farm when they had the old herringbone parlor, and then concentrated on dairy health and wellbeing while getting my master’s at the University of Tennessee. I graduated and moved toward western Kentucky to my husband’s family farm, where we raise Charolais cattle and help out a bit on his family’s dairy farm.

I’ve been with KDDC for more than 2 years, starting out as a regional consultant and working with dairy farmers after a few years of working with chicken farmers and in regulatory. I switched roles to my current position in January. It’s a long way from milking cows, but I do love the chance to help others in Kentucky dairy keep doing what they love.

KFB: Being a dairy farmer is a very demanding occupation.  What is the motivation that keeps people in this sector of the ag industry?

TE: Dairy farming is demanding, but people keep doing it for the same reason that I think motivates any farmer- it’s a way of life. Most of our dairy farms in Kentucky are multi-generational, although we do have some first-generation farms started by very driven individuals. Either way, they enjoy the experiences it gives them and their families, and this keeps them dairying. These farmers are also entrepreneurs, and I think embracing that ownership of these large businesses also motivates them for success.

KFB: How is KDDC encouraging a new generation of dairy farmer to come into or stay in the business of dairy?

TE: KDDC is working to encourage a new generation of dairy farmers, in part, by creating a community that supports this industry and creates connections between farmers. As dairy communities thin out, facilitating these connections through meetings, online communications, and farm visits is so important to support their growth, provide info on how to navigate opportunities and challenges in the industry, and bring awareness that they are part of something larger than their own operation.

KFB: How big of a factor has technology played in the dairy business?

TE: Modern technology has been present in our dairy industry for at least a decade now, and farmers are pretty quick to recognize how it can help solve challenges on their farm. For example, if experienced labor is an issue, they’ll turn to a heat monitoring system to support breeding protocols and improve efficiency of the operation. We have really supportive industry people and consultants that work to educate producers about how tech can support their farm and help them utilize it to achieve their goals.

KFB: We see many dairies expanding their businesses to include value-added products. How important has this been to the industry, and do you expect it to continue to grow?

TE: Adding a value-added business to dairy has helped producers keep a small herd size when this may be a challenge in an area that demands the efficiencies of scaling up. I have a lot of respect for these farmers who are innovative and driven enough to take on the challenge of processing milk and starting a brand-new business from scratch that is so different from farming. I think a value-added operation may be a good fit for some more dairies throughout the state, and a lot of rural communities could also really benefit from these types of local businesses.

KFB: What are some of the top challenges facing dairy farm families today?

TE: The big challenge for dairy farmers is figuring out a path for the future of their operation when the industry demands growth and consolidation, land prices keep several farms essentially land-locked, replacements are sky-high if you can find them, and sometimes there is just no interest or ability to scale up, which brings a host of other challenges. Despite this, our industry is actually in a pretty positive position right now. We have a great market asking for more milk, there are opportunities for significant diversified income if you do have extra replacements or beef on dairy calves to sell, and input costs are generally favorable. It’s a great time to tackle these challenges and plan for the future.

KFB: While we have seen the number of dairy farms decline over the years, talk about how relevant this sector still is to Kentucky’s ag industry.

TE: We have about 325 dairies in Kentucky right now, so we’ve lost 20-30 in the last year or two. We are not seeing significant changes in cow numbers, though, so we’re just following the national trend of consolidation and not a real decline in the industry. The average herd size in Kentucky is around 140 cows, although there are significant differences in herd size- from maybe 20 milk cows up to more than 2,500. A farm milking less than 100 cows can produce $1 million of milk a year, and most of those dollars are going to leave the farm quickly to contribute to the local community where they will turn over three to seven times. That means even a small dairy operation provides a significant contribution to rural communities where those operations may be the largest businesses in town, providing jobs, support to other agribusinesses, and the ability to keep the rural communities thriving.