Feeding Together: Building Dairy Farm Resilience Through the Maryland Dairy Feeding Network

Commodities

• Agronomic: corn
• Animals: bovine
• Animal Products: dairy

Practices

• Animal Production: feed/forage, feed formulation, feed management, feed rations
• Education and Training: decision support system, demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, focus group, mentoring, networking, workshop
• Farm Business Management: community-supported agriculture

This project supports SARE's goals of improving farm profitability, protecting animal well-being, reducing feed waste, and strengthening agricultural communities through farmer-led education and peer learning. Maryland dairy farmers, many operating small- to mid-sized family-owned farms, face increasing pressure from rising land and feed costs, milk price volatility, and the challenge of maintaining economically viable operations. Because feed represents the largest operating cost on dairy farms, feeding management is a critical area where small inefficiencies can quickly increase financial risk and labor demands.
In this project, feeding management refers to the day-to-day decisions farmers make from corn silage harvest through total mixed ration (TMR) preparation and delivery. These include targeting proper dry matter at harvest, evaluating kernel processing, managing particle size, and maintaining ration consistency. Feeding management also includes ingredient loading order, mixing time, feed bunk management, and routine evaluation using tools such as the Penn State Particle Separator. Previous work by our team documented substantial variation in corn silage quality across Maryland farms, particularly in dry matter, starch, and fiber, contributing to inconsistent rations, reduced cow performance, and increased feed waste.
Building on these findings, this project will establish the Maryland Dairy Feeding Network, a farmer-led collaboration focused on peer learning, shared problem-solving, and long-term relationship building. Five counties: Garrett, Washington, Carroll, Frederick, and Cecil, representing approximately 90% of Maryland's dairy production, will form the foundation of the network. In each county, ten farms will participate.
Each participating farm will receive two on-farm consultation visits per year. The first visit will include laboratory analysis of TMR and corn silage to establish baseline feed quality and support farm-specific recommendations. Samples will be analyzed for chemical composition, fermentation profile, and mycotoxins, and results will be interpreted collaboratively with farmers. The second visit will focus on practical, low-cost evaluation tools rather than additional laboratory testing. The project team will assess TMR dry matter, particle size, feed bunk conditions, feeding consistency, and corn silage management through visual inspection and temperature measurements. This approach strengthens farmers' ability to monitor feeding practices independently and supports long-term improvement.
Following each visit, farmers will receive individualized, actionable recommendations addressing ration consistency, silage preservation, particle size, and feed-out management. Based on these engagements, one host farm will be selected in each county to serve as a hub for peer learning. Each county will host an annual Feed and Forage Field Session featuring hands-on evaluation and facilitated discussion. Through repeated on-farm engagement, peer learning, and shared leadership, the Maryland Dairy Feeding Network will strengthen trust between farmers and Extension, build local expertise, and enhance the long-term resilience and viability of dairy farm communities across Maryland.

We aim to strengthen dairy farm resilience by improving feeding management through a farmer-led, community-based approach that integrates on-farm consultation, applied learning, and peer exchange. The project will implement coordinated activities that include individualized on-farm visits, targeted laboratory analysis of TMR and corn silage during an initial visit, and follow-up visits focused on on-farm evaluation, observation, and discussion without additional laboratory costs. These activities translate established feeding management principles into practical practices that farmers can routinely apply under real-world conditions.
This project serves dairy farms in Garrett, Washington, Carroll, Frederick, and Cecil counties in Maryland, representing approximately 90% of the state's dairy production. These communities face increasing economic pressure, labor constraints, and limited access to farm-specific technical support, making feeding management a critical leverage point for improving efficiency, reducing risk, and supporting farmer well-being.
Expected outcomes include improved consistency of TMR delivery, reduced feed losses, increased farmer confidence in interpreting feed quality indicators, and stronger connections among dairy producers. By building trust-based relationships and farmer leadership through the Maryland Dairy Feeding Network, this project establishes a durable, community-centered model that will continue to support dairy farms beyond the project period and can be adapted and scaled across the Northeast.