Challenges and Solutions for Small Dairy Farms in the U.S.: A Review

Syed H. Jafri, K. M. Mehedi Adnan, Stefan Baimbill Johnson, Anzalin Ali Talukder, Mark Yu and Edward Osei
Additional contact information
Syed H. Jafri: Department of Accounting, Finance, and Economics, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA
K. M. Mehedi Adnan: Division of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA
Stefan Baimbill Johnson: Division of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA
Anzalin Ali Talukder: Division of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA
Mark Yu: Division of Agribusiness and Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-25

Abstract: Small-sized dairy farms (SSDFs) are integral to the agricultural landscape, providing economic, social, and environmental benefits to rural communities. However, they face growing challenges, including market volatility, rising production costs, labor shortages, and complex regulatory demands. This review synthesizes the current literature on the economic and environmental obstacles confronting SSDFs and explores strategies to enhance their sustainability and competitiveness. Key barriers include limited access to capital, high feed and energy expenses, and difficulties in adopting new technologies due to financial constraints. SSDFs also struggle to compete with larger farms benefiting from economies of scale and increased market power. Potential solutions include strengthening cooperative models, implementing diversification strategies, and leveraging policy support for targeted financial assistance and technology adoption. Case studies of successful SSDFs show that transitioning to organic production, adopting climate-smart techniques, and focusing on niche markets can significantly improve profitability and resilience. This review emphasizes the need for tailored policy frameworks, innovative financial models, and collaboration among stakeholders to support SSDFs. Future research should prioritize understanding SSDF-specific financial dynamics, assessing the cost-effectiveness of technology adoption, and developing strategies to enhance market access and long-term sustainability in the U.S. dairy sector.

Keywords: small-scale dairy operations; challenges; interventions; policy adjustments; economic issues; U.S. dairy sector (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2369/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/14/12/2369/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:12:p:2369-:d:1550729

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture is currently edited by Ms. Leda Xuan

More articles in Agriculture from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().