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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.

May 3, 2025
Youth Dairy Quiz Bowl

May 10, 2025
Dairy Foods workshop w/Dr. Bob Horton
10:00 – 12:00: Orange, VA
2:00 – 4:00: Harrisonburg, VA

May 13-14, 2025
VFGC Basic Grazing School
Madison, VA

June 14, 2025
Franklin County Open Livestock Show

June 20, 2025
Virginia Dairy Expo
Dayton, VA

TBA
BQA Training & Certification
Open to all dairy and beef producers

BQA Training & Certification via
Southside Women in Ag

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 January 2025 Mailbox Price: $24.31
last month → VA Dec 2024 Mailbox Price: $24.42
1 year ago →  VA Jan 2024 Mailbox Price: $21.64
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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    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.
May 2025 - Chasing the Elusive Hydraulic Leak; Copper Supplementation Sources: Which One to Choose for Dairy Cattle?; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes
Screenshot of the linked pdf.
April 2025 - In this issue: Differential Somatic Cell Count: A Potential Tool to Improve Mastitis Detection; Enhancing Herd Management with Protocols; Upcoming Events; Notes