Research & Innovation Partners Category Guide

Research Partnerships in Dairy

Universities, government agencies, and private companies conduct research that advances dairy production. Farms that partner with researchers gain early access to innovations, contribute to industry advancement, and often receive support for trying new approaches.

Types of Research Partners

Land-Grant Universities

Agricultural research universities conduct dairy research in nutrition, reproduction, facilities, economics, and other areas. They often seek farm partners for on-farm trials and validation studies.

USDA Agricultural Research Service

Federal research facilities focus on longer-term and fundamental research. Some programs partner with commercial farms for applied studies.

Private Industry

Feed companies, pharmaceutical firms, equipment manufacturers, and technology companies conduct research on their products. Farm trials help validate new offerings.

Dairy Checkoff

Producer-funded research through dairy checkoff programs addresses industry priorities and often involves on-farm components.

Participating in Research

Types of Involvement

• On-farm trials: Testing new products, practices, or technologies
• Data sharing: Providing production and management data for analysis
• Demonstration sites: Hosting research implementations for others to observe
• Advisory roles: Providing producer perspective on research priorities

What Researchers Look For

• Good record-keeping and management systems
• Willingness to follow protocols
• Adequate herd size for statistical validity
• Cooperative relationship with research team
• Interest in the research questions

Benefits and Considerations

Potential Benefits

• Early access to new technologies and practices
• Free or reduced-cost products during trials
• Expert analysis of your operation
• Contributing to industry advancement
• Networking with researchers and progressive producers

Considerations

• Time and management attention required
• Potential disruption to normal operations
• Some trials may not show positive results
• Confidentiality and data ownership questions

Finding Opportunities

Contact your state's dairy Extension specialist or land-grant university dairy science department. Express interest to company representatives. Attend research update events at conferences. Check dairy association communications for research announcements.