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VTDairy - Home of the Dairy Extension Program at Virginia Tech

VTDairy - Home of the Dairy Extension Program at Virginia Tech

Enhancing knowledge, safety, and profitability

Illustration of a Holstein cow grazing.

Upcoming Events

Farm Advisory Teams
Contact cmartel@vt.edu or jdaubert@vt.edu to develop a farm advisory team.

June 18, 2025
DEADLINE - June Dairy Month Poster Contest

June 20, 2025
Virginia Dairy Expo
Dayton, VA

July 2025
Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative - Grants opening:
Dairy Business Planning Grant
Specialty Processing Equipment Grant

July 26, 2025
Dairy fitting and showing workshop
Rockingham County Fairgrounds

July 31, 2025
Dairy Youth Field Day

August 2, 2025
VA State Dairy Shows

August 7, 2025
Virginia Ag Expo

August 12, 2025
Rockingham County Fair Dairy Show

September 14-17, 2025
All-American Dairy Show

September 26, 2025
VA State Fair Jr. Dairyman’s Contest

September 27, 2025
VA State Fair Dairy Show

October 13, 2025 (Monday)
Hokie Cow Classic – Save the Date

If you are a person with a disability and require any auxiliary aids, services or other accommodations for any Extension event, please discuss your accommodation needs with the Extension staff at your local Extension office at least 1 week prior to the event.

Current Dairy Industry Stats

Virginia February 2025 Mailbox Price: $24.24
last month → VA Jan 2024 Mailbox Price: $24.31
1 year ago →  VA Feb 2024 Mailbox Price: $21.36
more mailbox prices...

VA Grade A Dairy Herds as of Jan 2025: 
Cow: 338   |   Goat: 1  

VA Manufactured Grade Herds as of Jan 2025: 
Cow: 11  |  Goat: 8  |  Sheep: 1   

Click map to open PDF.

Screenshot of the linked document. County breakdown may be found at https://sas.vt.edu/extension/vtdairy/maps.html.

Programs

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    Wordle Word Cloud with financial words.
    Dairy Financial Management

    Holistic management strategies to assist farmers in successfully managing their agricultural operations through periods of high risk, volatility, and financial stress.

  • General Item
    Round hay bales in foreground with green trees and blue skies in the background.
    Forage Quality & Management

    Educational on-farm workshops and diverse extension fact-sheets along with educational videos.

  • General Item
    Close up view of dairy cow udder.
    Mastitis and Milk Quality

    Increase milk production, milk quality, and profitability with mastitis detection, control and prevention. Includes farm management improvements to prevent pathogen proliferation.

  • General Item
    Jersey calves facing camera at hay.
    Replacements

    Get your replacements off to a good start to maximize your herd's future!

Videos

Hurricane Helene Resources

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Guidance

Dairy Extension Contacts

 

New

Screenshot of the linked document.
June 2025 - In this issue: Replacement management: Are you doing it effectively?; Avian Influenza A (H5N1): The outbreak of Bird Flu in U.S. Dairy Cattle; Upcoming Events; Notes
Screenshot of the linked document.
May 2025 - Chasing the Elusive Hydraulic Leak; Copper Supplementation Sources: Which One to Choose for Dairy Cattle?; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes