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Phenomenal milk production growth in Michigan

A dairy consultant says Michigan’s dairy production has increased by almost 70 percent since 2000.

Brian Troyer tells Brownfield Michigan’s dairy production has grown larger and faster in the last decade than he ever expected.  “The growth in Michigan’s dairy in the last 10 years to 15 years is pretty phenomenal, and the last two years especially, the whole country’s talking about what we’ve accomplished here.”

Troyer says technology and standard protocols on farms have helped Michigan become the 6^th largest dairy producing state with production per cow the highest in the nation.  With that growth, Troyer says finding employees has become increasingly difficult.  “We had plenty of people that were willing to milk cows on our farms and work on our farms, and in the last five years that’s become a bigger and bigger challenge as we’ve seen more issues with immigration.”

Troyer says Michigan is an ideal climate for cows and growing feed with plenty of access to water and expects the growth in the industry continue despite labor and milk price challenges.

Brownfield spoke with Troyer during the 15th Annual Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

AUDIO: Interview with Brian Troyer