Dairy Farmer Restores Old Mill, Develops Successful Business Plan for Community-Focused Creamery

When John Nolt, a dairy farmer from Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania, bought an old mill and corner lot in December of 2017, he never anticipated how much of an impact it would have on his community. With a 50-cow herd, Nolt and his family dreamt of restoring the mill and opening their own creamery to sell homemade…

Center for Dairy Excellence Awards $210,000 to Help Dairy Producers Enhance Efficiency & Cow Comfort

The Dairy Excellence Grants Were Awarded to 42 Dairy Producers From 23 PA Counties The Center for Dairy Excellence recently awarded a collective total of $210,000 to 42 Pennsylvania dairy producers through the fifth round of the Dairy Excellence Grant program. Leveraging funds provided through the PA Dairymen’s Association and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this…

Dairy Farmer Shares How She Broke Into the Dairy Industry and Now Manages On-Farm Creamery

Ariel Herrod may be a full-time dairy farmer and the owner of Clear Spring Creamery at the age of 31, but her path to breaking into the dairy industry wasn’t a traditional one. Herrod grew up in the suburbs of Baltimore with no family roots in dairy farming. What she did have was an independent…

Dairy Excellence Grants to Open for Next Round of Applications Starting February 1

The Grants Help Support Improvement Projects Related to Cow Comfort, Efficiency, and Milk Production The next round of funding for the Dairy Excellence Grant Program opens on February 1, and Pennsylvania dairy producers have until February 28 to submit a grant application. The program is ideal for Pennsylvania dairy producers who want to improve cow…

Dairy Producer Shares Perspective on Getting Started, Managing Costs and Building First-Generation Herd

Abbie Evans of A Joy Swiss in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania may have grown up in multiple generations of dairy farming, but she has worked with her husband to build their first-generation Brown Swiss herd and start their dairy operation from the ground up. Right on the Pennsylvania and New York border, Abbie and her husband…

Center for Dairy Excellence Awards $100,000 to Help Producers Enhance Efficiency and Cow Comfort

The Dairy Excellence Grants Were Awarded to 20 Dairy Producers From 12 PA Counties The Center for Dairy Excellence recently awarded a collective total of $100,000 to 20 Pennsylvania dairy producers through the fourth round of the Dairy Excellence Grant program. Leveraging funds provided through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this investment from Ag Excellence supported…

PA Dairy Processor Expands Capacity in Sour Cream Department With an Eye on Innovation

Nestled among residential homes and community parks about five miles south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Schneider’s Dairy, Inc. is a family-owned and operated business that has been in operation since 1935. They have provided their community with high-quality dairy products for more than 85 years. Many Pittsburgh natives have early memories of enjoying Schneider’s Dairy milk…

Grants Available to Pair PA Dairy Farms with Professional Consultants and Advisory Teams

The Center’s On-Farm Team and Dairy Decisions Consultant (DDC) Programs Are Both Open The Center for Dairy Excellence is now accepting applications for the On-Farm Team Grant Program and Dairy Decisions Consultant (DDC) Grant Program for the 2022-23 year. Dairy producers who are looking to improve profitability, create a transition plan, or plan a major…

Three Grant Opportunities Now Open for PA Dairy Producers and Processors

The Grants Help Support Improvement Projects, Value-Added Consulting, and Processing Expansions The Center for Dairy Excellence opened three competitive grant programs on September 1, 2022 for Pennsylvania dairy producers and processors who are looking to advance their businesses. Leveraging funds provided through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center, the programs include…

Center for Dairy Excellence Awards $202,500 in Third Round of Grants to Help Producers Enhance Efficiency and Cow Comfort

The Dairy Excellence Grants Were Awarded to 43 Dairy Producers From 27 PA Counties The Center for Dairy Excellence recently awarded a collective total of $202,500 to 43 Pennsylvania dairy producers through the third round of the Dairy Excellence Grant program. Leveraging funds provided through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, this investment from Ag Excellence supported…