Inspiring Insights from Ad van Velde at World Dairy Expo

Inspiring Insights from Ad van Velde at World Dairy Expo

One of our many Global Dairy Farmers events is a week at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, USA, a special occasion that includes farm visits as a closing highlight. These farm visits were exclusively to award-winning farms known for their dedication to sustainable management, soil health, and effective communication. The featured farms include Schmidt Dairies (3800 cows), Clarkview Farms (950 cows), and Hinchley’s Dairy (250 cows). All in Wisconsin state, these visits were a unique opportunity for me to discuss and learn about their innovative practices, challenges and achievements in the dairy industry. My key takeaways from these visits were the remarkable enthusiasm and passion displayed by all three dairy farms for their business. Notably, all three farms exhibited strong control and balance, functioning as top-managed dairy farms with sound business models. Despite varying sizes, they all maintained their status as family farms, a common trait among 95% of dairy farms in Wisconsin. What sets these three apart is their distinctive approaches, all advancing steadfastly in their own ways. It is preferable that we transition to more sustainable practices within the dairy industry. Let's all work collectively toward this goal, creating collaboration, not only among fellow dairy farmers but also with our chain partners and industry allies. I had the opportunity to engage with dairy farmers from around the world this week, developing regions such as China, Japan, India, Vietnam, South and Central America. What's remarkable is their shared ambition to enhance their dairy businesses and their receptiveness to innovative concepts. The time is ripe for us to collaborate and supporting each other, both on significant challenges and smaller, day-to-day matters. As the demand for food continues to surge, there's a pressing need to address this in the dairy industry. Interestingly, we are witnessing a global decline in the number of dairy farmers. This creates a unique opportunity for us to become not just farmers but colleagues in this evolving landscape.