Dairy farmers in a couple of Western states have new industry representation. Dairy West recently hired Steve Seppi as its new CEO, after working with the Dairy Farmers of Washington, and says he’s passionate about keeping the industry on track.
Dairy West represents dairies in Idaho and Utah, but Seppi says the region doesn’t matter when it comes to who represents dairy. He says all dairy farmers work hard to feed the world.
“You know, I had good relationships with farmers across the region from my time across there, and ultimately, you know, there was an opportunity to kind of approach this new regional growth and regional expansion,” Seppi said. “And so ultimately, I saw that as an opportunity and was encouraged by some of the farmers here in Idaho and Utah, and took the opportunity. And then ultimately, I’m looking forward to the future as we continue to expand and grow as a region.”
Seppi is likely to have his work cut out for him, with the 2022 Census of Agriculture showing there are more than 30% fewer U.S. dairy farms today compared to 2017.
GROWING IMPORTANCE OF PRECISION TECHNOLOGY IN DAIRY
Due to the operational and labor challenges dairy farms face, producers are increasingly turning to various technological systems to bridge the gap. New numbers out this week show just how vital precision agriculture technology has become to the industry.
An updated study by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) reveals that the technology spans a vast area, encompassing approximately 11 million acres of cropland. That’s roughly five times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
It’s making an impact, too.
Researchers found that adopting precision ag tech has given corn production a five-percent boost each year. AEM’s Curt Blades says the report shows that if this kind of growth continues, the industry would be set up for extraordinary success.
