What does the future of Wisconsin dairy look like to you? We see the things that made us America’s Dairyland and have kept us that way: family-owned farms, hardworking farmers, healthy cows, responsible resource management, clean water and beautiful rolling hills.
What we see ahead is even stronger: farmers continuing to learn and improve our dairy industry by raising healthy cows, protecting waterways, preserving soil quality and finding energy solutions.
The next generation of farmers, the knowledge they inherit and the tools they develop will carry on Wisconsin dairy’s legacy of sustainability. They’ll strengthen our farms, our economy and our future.
The future of sustainable dairy is our people.
There’s a reason 99% of Wisconsin dairy farms are farmer-owned and many are generational. It takes determination, passion and intelligence to succeed as a farmer — qualities that are passed down. It’s not for everyone, but those who farm know how rewarding it is to support a family, a state and a nation through agriculture.
But it’s not just grit. The next generation is preparing to lead the way in Wisconsin dairy, excellent cow care and smart resource management through specialized programs, like membership in the Wisconsin Association of FFA and the pursuit of advanced degrees.
Organizations like FFA remain prevalent in our community, inspiring young people to make our farms even stronger and giving them the knowledge and skills necessary to do so. And Wisconsin-based colleges and universities give our future farmers opportunities to study specific, applicable topics like bovine biology, veterinary care, cow nutrition and soil science, helping them prepare for challenges and opportunities to innovate.
The future of sustainable dairy is our knowledge.
Wisconsin has benefitted from the hard work and learnings of each farming generation — our improvements in farm function and sustainability are a direct result of applying their wisdom.
Farmers have always done the most with what’s available to them. This looks different today than it did for our grandparents. With the knowledge that’s accumulated over decades of dairy farming, doing our best means incorporating new technology to make our cows healthier and our operations more efficient.
Now, we can use health-tracking collars on our cows to track just about everything they do. These devices are almost like smart watches for cows. They show how often they eat, swallow and ruminate, how many steps they take, their body temperature and more. They can even catch illnesses before symptoms begin and give insight on how calm the cows feel.
Today, each gallon of water on a Wisconsin dairy farm is used up to four times. Farms have water systems that circulate water, performing tasks such as chilling milk or clearing manure from stalls to keep them comfortable for the cows. Solids are separated from the water, and clean water is then circulated around the farm to be reused.
Cow manure heads to a biodigester, which captures gas as the organic matter breaks down and turns it into renewable energy. The broken-down material left over is then composted and sterilized, transforming into a soft, fluffy material that serves as comfortable cow bedding.
Outside the barn, soil health is preserved with regenerative agriculture techniques such as cover crop and no-till practices. This keeps soil in place, preventing soil loss through erosion and allowing it to maintain a healthy microbiome. Farmers partner with the state to establish water and sediment control basins (WASCOBs), earthen dams that slow heavy rainfall, discharging water downstream to prevent flooding.
Sustainability is what we do.
From our humble beginnings, to an even better today, to a bright future, Wisconsin dairy farms have always prioritized sustainability. We’re at its forefront — always have been and always will be. Our talented upcoming farmers make progress possible by building upon our generational knowledge.
It’s our responsibility to use the tools and lessons we’ve learned from former Wisconsin dairy farmers to make each year better than the last. With what we know now, we go above and beyond not just to meet production needs, but to improve cow health, nutrition and comfort year after year.
We don’t just look at the future of sustainable dairy, we look forward to it. The next generation of farmers is stepping up to the challenge with the support of organizations like the FFA, higher education and of course, our community.
Do you have what it takes to be in FFA?
Time to test your dairy farm knowledge! Whether you’re a current FFA member, a past member or a Wisconsin dairy enthusiast, here’s your chance to show what you know about dairy farming.
1. How much does the average cow weigh?
a. 550 pounds
b. 1,400 pounds
c. 2,000 pounds
d. 2,200 pounds
2. How much milk does the average Wisconsin dairy cow produce each day?
a. 2 gallons
b. 5 gallons
c. 7.5 gallons
d. 10 gallons
3. On average, how many times per day are cows milked?
a. 1-2 times per day
b. 2-3 times per day
c. 3-4 times per day
d. 4-5 times per day
4. What percentage of Wisconsin dairy farms are family-owned?
a. 23%
b. 64%
c. 87%
d. 99%
5. What kind of cow has black and white spots?
a. Holstein
b. Jersey
c. Angus
d. Brown Swiss
6. Cows have an excellent sense of smell. How far away can they smell?
a. 1 mile
b. 4 miles
c. 6 miles
d. 22 miles
7. How many teeth does a cow have?
a. 24
b. 32
c. 76
d. 114
8. What is the bushy tip of a cow’s tail called?
a. Swatter
b. Brush
c. Nublet
d. Switch
9. What is a baby cow called?
a. Steer
b. Bull
c. Calf
d. Cutie
10. Today, it takes less land to produce a gallon of milk now than it did historically. How much less?
a.15% less
b. 40% less
c. 70% less
d. 90% less
Bonus questions on FFA:
1. What fabric is used to create FFA jackets?
a. Corduroy
b. Denim
c. Satin
d. Polyester
2. Who wrote the FFA creed?
a. M. J. Ward
b. E. T. Jefferson
c. E.M. Tiffany
d. T. J. Higgins
3. What are the official FFA colors?
a. Navy Blue and Sun Gold
b. National Blue and Corn Gold
c. America Blue and Star Gold
d. Irrigation Blue and Sunflower Gold
Answer key:
1. How much does the average cow weigh?
b. 1,400 pounds
2. How much milk does the average Wisconsin dairy cow produce each day?
c. 7.5 gallons
3. On average, how many times per day are cows milked?
b. 2-3 times per day
4. What percentage of Wisconsin dairy farms are family-owned?
d. 99%
5. What kind of cow has black and white spots?
e. Holstein
6. Cows have an excellent sense of smell. How far away can they smell?
c. 6 miles
7. How many teeth does a cow have?
b. 32
8. What is the bushy tip of a cow’s tail called?
d. Switch
9. What is a baby cow called?
c. Calf
10. Today, it takes less land to produce a gallon of milk now than it did historically. How much less?
d. 90% less
Bonus questions on FFA:
1. What fabric is used to create FFA jackets?
a. Corduroy
2. Who wrote the FFA creed?
c. E.M. Tiffany
3. What are the official FFA colors?
b. National Blue and Corn Gold