--- title: Widespread Growth Underway in Dairy Industry description: The head of the International Dairy Foods Association estimates more than $7 billion in processing expansions are currently underway across the U.S. image: https://air.certifiedagdealer.com/hubfs/Dairy%20-%20cows%20in%20line%20w%20milking%20machine%20attached-1.jpg --- [![](https://44184668.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/44184668/Site%20Assets/Triangle-1-blue.png)View All ](https://air.certifiedagdealer.com/all) # Widespread Growth Underway in Dairy Industry Jan 30, 2024 ![](https://air.certifiedagdealer.com/hubfs/Dairy%20-%20cows%20in%20line%20w%20milking%20machine%20attached-1.jpg) The head of the International Dairy Foods Association estimates more than $7 billion in processing expansions are currently underway across the U.S. During a recent Dairy Forum 2024, President and CEO Michael Dykes said nearly three-fourths of dairy CEOs in their annual survey say they plan to increase investments over the next three to five years. ![Dairy - IDFA chart of growth in 2024](https://air.certifiedagdealer.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dairy%20-%20IDFA%20chart%20of%20growth%20in%202024.jpg?width=420&height=240&name=Dairy%20-%20IDFA%20chart%20of%20growth%20in%202024.jpg) “Look at these investments—cheese plants, aseptic, UF—we’re changing the products we’re making,” says Dykes.  “We’re doing more ingredients, more fractionation of milk.  Dairy’s not declining. Dairy is growing. We’re simply eating more of our dairy than we are drinking.” According to Dykes, the industry needs to keep looking forward, with farmers and processors adopting a growth mindset. “We have the most efficient dairy producers in the world, bar none. We are seeing fewer farms, larger farms, more milk per cow. It’s amazing. We’re seeing vertical integration in our industry, we’re seeing consolidation and concentration in our industry, whether that’s good, whether that’s bad, but it is, and it will happen, and it will continue to happen.” Dykes says U.S. farmers are producing twice as much milk today with half as many cows as they were 60 years ago, and they will continue to improve efficiencies. USDA is projecting milk production to increase by 20 billion pounds by 2030. Dykes says that will mean exports will need to move at least four percent more milk in the next six years. EDITOR’S TAKE: A great report concerning the future of our dairy industry. More milk from dairy farms and more infrastructure to accommodate that increased production. This is truly a formula for continued success well into the future. Growing exports will likely be the most challenging part of the equation. However, recent improvements in USDA funding for export initiatives is a good start. Couple those funds with industry financed promotion programs and it is a promising future. Dairy farmers use a lot of pickup trucks. Be sure your parts and service departments are putting some special emphasis on serving the needs of dairy farmers in your area. 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