HANOVER, N.H. — In 2021, when corporate dairy companies canceled over 100 contracts with small dairy farmers in the Northeastern U.S., a team of researchers from Dartmouth College asked the question, “How and why do dairy farmers sustain their operations in light of market shocks?” It is well known that Northeastern dairy farmers have been diversifying their farm activities to survive market shocks that are often driven by increasing competition with large-scale, Midwestern organic dairies. Yet researchers found that what motivates dairy farmers’ diversifications ranged drastically—from a desire to support ecological health to wanting to sustain the quality of life that comes from living close to livestock in New England.
In new JAFSCD article, “Diversification strategies for the resilience of small New England dairies,” Julie Snorek (corresponding author), Wyatt Cummings, Eric Hryniewicz, Keelia Stevens, and Rose Iannuzzi highlight how small-scale Northeast dairy farmers have adapted, supplemented, or transformed their dairy operations to survive and thrive. The article explores their motivations and various forms of support, such as strong social networks. It also reviews the barriers preventing dairy farmers from diversifying their operations.
KEY FINDINGS
Some of the key strategies for diversification identified by the researchers include
- higher premiums from organic or directly marketed liquid milk,
- value-added dairy products (e.g., pudding),
- nondairy farm products, including tourism, and
- efficient and sustainable land management practices.
These strategies are most effective when farmers engage in transparent and open sharing of knowledge across their social and professional networks, which is driven by strong, interpersonal relationships.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE, AND RESEARCH
While there are some who question the viability of the Northeast’s dairy system in the current market context, others see regional dairy as essential to the social fabric of the region as well as an important part of a national strategy to build a climate-resilient food system.
To bolster this system and support its resilience, farmers say they need more consistent institutional support supporting diversification. These include more local processing facilities, more diverse and inclusive dairy cooperatives, and enforcement of quality controls, such as the pasture and origin of livestock rules to strengthen organic standards and promote regenerative practices.
For more information and to read the full article, click here.
–Julie Snorek
Wyatt Cummings
Eric Hryniewicz
Keelia Stevens
Rose Iannuzzi
Dartmouth College
Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development