For generations, dairy farmers have done the work of producing the milk.
But what if some of that milk could become something more before it ever left the farm?
That’s one possibility Northeast Iowa dairy producers can explore during an On~Farm Dairy Processing Forum coming to Waukon on Friday, October 9.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is bringing the one~day program to Empty Nest Winery for dairy producers who are considering value~added processing as a way to diversify their farms.
For a farmer considering processing some of their own milk, there can be plenty of questions before taking that first step.
What will it cost? Is there a market for the product? What regulations apply? Where could funding come from?
Those are the kinds of questions this forum is designed to help producers begin answering.
The program will include information about funding resources, finances and regulations, with speakers from Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Panel discussions will also give farmers an opportunity to interact with the experts.
The Waukon forum will be held Friday, October 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Empty Nest Winery, 1352 Apple Road.
There is no cost to attend, thanks to funding from North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, and those planning to attend are asked to register by October 5. The day will conclude with a wine and cheese tasting; anyone participating in the wine tasting will pay for their own wine.
For some dairy families, the future of the farm may not necessarily mean producing more.
It might mean finding more possibilities in what they’re already producing.
And on October 9, Northeast Iowa farmers will have a chance to learn whether taking milk one step further~ straight from the farm ~ could make sense for their operation. 🐄🥛❤️
Official information and registration ~ Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
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