State launches guide for dairy industry workforce development

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets launched a workforce-development resource guide to connect young people and those interested in a career in the dairy industry.

The guide is part of an initiative by the New York State Dairy Think Tank to streamline workforce-development efforts and better connect workers to employers.

“The dairy industry is a powerhouse of New York’s economy, creating thousands of local jobs while fueling our communities statewide,” Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said in a press release. “Resources like this catalog and the Dairy Think Tank will help our dairy farmers and processors attract and retain great employees to produce the milk and variety of dairy foods that make New York a leading dairy state.”

The Catalog of New York State Workforce Development Pipelines for the Dairy Industry is a central resource guide containing information about dairy-related workforce development programs, career opportunities, and funding streams available within the state.

It provides farms and processing plants with programs and opportunities to better connect with and train future employees, including school-based programs that introduce youth to the dairy industry. Jobseekers can also utilize the catalog to identify career pathways for those who are skilled, as well as those without any experience.

The Dairy Think Tank also partnered with the state Labor Department to create a series of videos showcasing the range of career opportunities within the state’s dairy industry including production, processing, and distribution. The department launched a dairy career page that provides information about working in the dairy industry, job opportunities, and resources for agricultural workers.

Created in 2020, the Dairy Think Tank brings together leaders in the industry including representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Department of Labor, and Empire State Development to discuss the challenges facing the dairy industry.

New York’s dairy industry is its leading agricultural sector, accounting for about half of the state’s total agricultural income. The state has nearly 300 processors and 3,200 dairy producers providing more than 15.7 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation’s fifth largest dairy state.