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2025 Dairy Producer Survey

Pennsylvania’s dairy farm families produce a fresh, local supply of dairy foods and contribute valuable economic revenue while operating in an ever-changing business environment. Penn State University and the Center for Dairy Excellence are collaborating to study the dairy supply chain’s current situation and examine how Pennsylvania dairy farmers can become more resilient. Please help us understand how the latest changes in the dairy industry impact your business by completing and returning this confidential and voluntary survey.

If you are uncertain about how to answer one of the questions or if you do not want to provide an answer, just skip to the next one.

This survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Please complete the survey by April 30, 2025. Thank you for your cooperation.
Demographics
1. Is your operation currently PRODUCING MILK for sale? (If yes, please skip to question #3)
2. If you answered NO, please answer these questions:
3. How long have you been in the dairy industry?
4. Please provide the information below
5. What type of business is your dairy farm?
(Only check ONE)
6. How many dairy cows, including dry cows, are currently on your operation?
7. How many heifers, including heifer calves, are currently on your operation?
8. What other operations are you involved in? (Select all that apply)
9. Do you dairy on owned or leased land?
If leased of both, please estimate how many acres you currently lease?
10. Does the farm provide the sole income for the household?
If you answered "no," what are your other, non-dairy farm sources of income? (Select all that apply)
11. How much on-farm income comes from dairy production?
12. Did you calculate the following for the previous calendar year?
Yes
No
Unsure
Production Costs
Feed Costs
Return on Assets
Debt to Asset Ratio
Marketing & Replacements
1. How many millions of pounds of milk were produced on this operation last year?
2. In what range, was the average somatic cell count for your herd last year?
3. How do you currently market your milk? (Check all that apply)
4. Please list the name of your cooperative or milk buyer/handler.
5. How many years have you been working with this co-op or milk handler?
6. Do you currently process your milk on farm?
If yes to #6, estimate the percent processed on-site.
If yes to #6, what products do you currently manufacture on your farm? (Check all that apply)
If you are not currently processing milk on your farm, rate your interest in obtaining a permit to process milk on your farm. (Rate: 1-no interest, 5-extremely interested)
1
2
3
4
5
7. Does your dairy currently ship to a conventional or organic market?
8. Do you work with a co-packer?
9. Which best describes your dairy?
10. Where do you typically buy your replacement heifers from?
11. Have you purchased replacement heifers from out of state in the past year?
12.Have you sold replacement heifers out of state in the past year?
13. Is your farm currently in a recognized animal welfare program (i.e., FARM Animal Welfare Program, co-op animal program)?