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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

July 22, 2026
Southeast Dairy Business Innovation Initiative Grants Opening:

  • Dairy Business Planning Grant
  • Specialty Processing Equipment Grant

July 30, 2026
4-H Dairy Judging Contest (Youth)

August 1, 2026
Virginia Summer Showdown

August 10-15, 2026
Rockingham County Fair

Monday – Saturday
(Dairy show on Tuesday, August 11, 8:00 a.m.)

September 12-16, 2026
All American Dairy Show

September 24 - October 4, 2026
Virginia State Fair

September 25, 2026
State Fair Junior Dairymen's Contest (Youth)


September 29-October 2, 2026
World Dairy Expo


November 5-19, 2026
North American International Livestock Expo

 

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 March 2026 Mailbox Price: $20.12
last month → VA February 2026 Mailbox Price: $19.38
1 year ago →  VA March 2025 Mailbox Price: $23.01
Go to the  March 2026 Mailbox Milk Price Report (6-24-2026)

VA Grade A Dairy Herds as of May 2026: 
Cow: 320   |   Goat: 3  |  Sheep: 0

VA Manufacture Grade Herds as of May 2026: 
Cow: 15  |  Goat: 7  |  Sheep: 1   

Click map to open PDF.

Virginia Dairy Herds | 2026. Map of Virginia depicting counties and the number of Grade A dairies in each.  Breakdown list located at https://sas.vt.edu/extension/vtdairy/maps.html. VCE logo.

Programs

  • General Item
    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

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Guidance

Dairy Extension Contacts


New

Screenshot of the linked newsletter.
July/August 2026 - In this issue: Heat Stress—A Diverse Approach to Management; Minimizing the Impact of a Droughty Summer; Upcoming Events
Screenshot of the linked newsletter.
June 2026 Dairy Pipeline - In this issue: Refresh your AI technique checklist; Feeding fats in dairy diets: How whole cottonseed impacts milk production; Upcoming Events; Additional Notes