Submitted By: Daniela Roland, Penn State Extension, Franklin County Dairy Educator
Penn State Extension invites dairy producers to attend a series of Milk Matters workshops this fall, designed to provide practical, science-based strategies to help farms improve milk quality, strengthen herd health, and support profitability. The workshops will focus on real-world management practices, milk quality troubleshooting, and effective use of herd records to make informed management decisions.
Milk quality remains one of the most important factors influencing dairy farm success. From reducing mastitis and somatic cell counts to maintaining milk premiums and improving overall herd performance, sound milk quality management can directly impact the farm’s bottom line. The Milk Matters workshops will provide producers with practical tools they can implement on their operations.
The first workshop, Milk Matters: Practical Steps to Better Milk Quality, will be held on October 20, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Matthew Troyer’s Farm in Greenville, Pennsylvania. This session is geared toward both organic and conventional dairy producers and is particularly relevant for non-electric dairy operations. Participants will learn best milking practices for mastitis prevention, how to collect and interpret milk cultures, methods for identifying the causes of mastitis, and strategies for using DHIA records to monitor and improve milk quality. The workshop is offered at no charge, and lunch will be provided.
Two additional workshops, Milk Matters: Boosting Quality, Records, and Profits, will be held on October 28, 2026, at the Walker Grange Annex in Mifflintown and on November 11, 2026, at the Crawford County Extension Office in Saegertown. These sessions, offered in partnership with Lancaster DHIA, will focus on using dairy records and data analysis to improve milk quality and herd productivity. Topics will include interpreting key indicators in the DHIA 202 Report, herd benchmarking, using records to guide milk quality improvements, selective dry cow therapy, and making informed dry-off decisions. Lunch will be provided.
Dairy farm owners, family members involved in dairy management, employees responsible for milking, and dairy industry professionals are encouraged to attend.
Workshop Information
Milk Matters: Practical Steps to Better Milk Quality
-October 20, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
-Matthew Troyer’s Farm, 1039 Hilltop Rd. Greenville, PA 16125
-Free registration
-To register, contact Ginger Fenton, Mercer County Dairy Educator at 724-662-3141 or visit https://extension.psu.edu/milk-matters-practical-steps-to-better-milk-quality
Milk Matters: Boosting Quality, Records, and Profits – Two Locations
-October 28, 2026: 9:30: a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
-Walker Grange Annex, 6611 William Penn Hwy., Mifflintown, PA 17059
-November 11, 2026, from 9:30: a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
-Crawford County Extension Office, 16871 Craig Rd, Saegertown, PA 16433
The Mifflintown and Saegertown workshops are free for Lancaster DHIA members and $10 for non-members. To register online, visit https://extension.psu.edu/milk-matters-practical-steps-to-better-milk-quality or call Daniela Roland at 717-809-2194.
For more information or questions about the workshops, contact Franklin County Dairy Educator Daniela Roland at 717-809-2194 or djr6158@psu.edu.
