Minnesota Dairy Initiative

Minnesota Dairy Initiative MDI’s mission is to serve dairy farmers through on-farm teams.

MDI is a producer-led initiative to coordinate a comprehensive approach to the delivery of on-farm services to Minnesota's dairy farmers. Those who are open to change and have a sincere desire to stay in the dairy business have the most benefit. The program is available to all dairy producers, regardless of size or production, and is flexible and custom-fit to the needs of each dairy. Minnesota Dairy Initiative uses a team approach, combining the skills and experience of dairy industry professionals. MDI coordinators and team leaders will provide on-farm education, networking, and other resources to the dairy farmer through a team of industry professionals. These individuals will work with dairy farmers to establish what business goals want to be reached such as the following:

Estate planning ⁄ farm transfer
Current production
Calf & heifer performance
Heifer growth ⁄ reproduction
Feed management & nutrition
Reproduction
Herd health
Profit margins
Grant opportunities
Family communication
Facility improvements ⁄ expansion
Forage Production
Transition to Organic

If you want more information or are interested in signing up for this program, please visit our website https://www.mn-dairy-initiative.org/ or contact the MDI State Director, Emily Mollenhauer emmollenhauer@gmail.com or call (651) 764-0309

🐄💡 DAIRI Deadline ExtendedGood news, there is still time! The DAIRI program deadline has been extended to April 9, offer...
04/03/2026

🐄💡 DAIRI Deadline Extended

Good news, there is still time! The DAIRI program deadline has been extended to April 9, offering financial support for small to medium dairy farms enrolled in DMC.

If you have been meaning to look into it, now's the time!
🔗 https://loom.ly/oeukfPY

🐄💡 Who is the Minnesota Dairy Initiative today?For nearly three decades, Minnesota Dairy Initiative has helped dairy far...
03/31/2026

🐄💡 Who is the Minnesota Dairy Initiative today?

For nearly three decades, Minnesota Dairy Initiative has helped dairy farms across Minnesota navigate important decisions, challenges, and growth opportunities.

Since the program began in the early 1990s, it's estimated that MDI on-farm teams, composed of 639 industry specialists, have worked with more than 1,000 farms across the state, helping producers make informed decisions for their operations! 🤝

⭐🐄 Running a dairy farm comes with big decisions!You shouldn’t have to navigate them alone. Minnesota Dairy Initiative w...
03/27/2026

⭐🐄 Running a dairy farm comes with big decisions!

You shouldn’t have to navigate them alone. Minnesota Dairy Initiative works alongside farmers by bringing trusted advisors together to help talk through challenges and plan the next steps.

If you’ve worked with MDI, your story could help another farmer take that first step.

We’d love for you to leave a review and share your experience!
Leave us a review here 👉 https://loom.ly/YoJn3_0,,,,

🐄🍕 Finish your chores early tomorrow!Just a reminder that Dairy Farmers Night Out is tomorrow. If you need a few hours a...
03/25/2026

🐄🍕 Finish your chores early tomorrow!

Just a reminder that Dairy Farmers Night Out is tomorrow. If you need a few hours away from the farm, this is your chance to grab some pizza and spend a relaxed evening with others in the dairy community.

📅 Thursday, March 26
⏰ 7:30–9:00 p.m.
📍 Unhinged Pizza | Glencoe, MN

Come as you are, bring a friend, and enjoy a night off the farm. We hope to see you there!

🐄🌱 Do you know how Minnesota Dairy Initiative began?Minnesota Dairy Initiative started in the early 90s as a pilot progr...
03/23/2026

🐄🌱 Do you know how Minnesota Dairy Initiative began?

Minnesota Dairy Initiative started in the early 90s as a pilot program on a dairy farm near Mayer in Carver County. The idea was simple but powerful: bring together trusted advisors and industry professionals to help dairy farmers make informed decisions for their operations.

Over time, the program expanded across the state, evolving from several regional efforts into the statewide Minnesota Dairy Initiative we know today!

Today, that same collaborative approach continues to help dairy farmers navigate challenges, opportunities, and important decisions on their farms. 🤝

💡🐄 Did You Know?Minnesota Dairy Initiative offers more than farm team support. We also host educational events throughou...
03/19/2026

💡🐄 Did You Know?

Minnesota Dairy Initiative offers more than farm team support. We also host educational events throughout the year that bring dairy farmers together to learn, share ideas, and connect with industry experts and fellow producers!

From Lunch & Learns and Dairy Farmers Night Out to sessions on topics like profitability, nutrition, and farm transition planning, these events are another way we help strengthen Minnesota dairy farms.

Follow along here to see upcoming opportunities to join us!

🍀🐄 Happy St. Patrick’s Day!Wishing you a day full of good luck and green pastures. May your cows stay healthy, the milk ...
03/17/2026

🍀🐄 Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Wishing you a day full of good luck and green pastures. May your cows stay healthy, the milk keep flowing, and maybe you even find a little pot of gold along the way.

Cheers to the dairy farmers who keep things running every day of the year!

🍕🐄 Dairy Farmers Night OutLooking for a chance to step away from the farm and connect with other dairy farmers? Join us ...
03/13/2026

🍕🐄 Dairy Farmers Night Out

Looking for a chance to step away from the farm and connect with other dairy farmers? Join us for Dairy Farmers Night Out!

📅 Thursday, March 26, 2026
⏰ 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
📍 Unhinged Pizza
2408 9th St., Glencoe, MN

Hosted by University of Minnesota Extension and the Minnesota Dairy Initiative.

Come and join us this week to attend our 'Creating the Profit-Ready Dairy Heifer'🐮 on Tuesday, March 3 at the Murray Cou...
03/03/2026

Come and join us this week to attend our 'Creating the Profit-Ready Dairy Heifer'🐮 on Tuesday, March 3 at the Murray County 4-H Building in Slayton, MN. A complimentary lunch will be provided. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. and the event will conclude with a discussion panel around 2:30 p.m. To register, please visit 🔗z.umn.edu/2026profitreadydairyheifer or contact Matti Boomgaarden at boomg022@umn.edu or Brittaney Moorse (with Minnesota Dairy Initiative ) at (507)-530-4415 if you have any questions!

An interesting listen from the University of Minnesota Dairy Extension!
03/03/2026

An interesting listen from the University of Minnesota Dairy Extension!

Hosted by members of the University of Minnesota Extension Beef and Dairy Teams, The Moos Room discusses relevant topics to help beef and dairy producers be more successful. The information is evidence-based and presented as an informal conversation between the hosts and guests.

Address

27500 County 9 Boulevard
Goodhue, MN
55027

Telephone

(651) 707-4980

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Our Story

Minnesota Dairy Initiative's mission is to help existing and potential dairy producers succeed through team-based on-farm education, resources, and networking.

MDI is a producer-led initiative to coordinate a comprehensive approach to the delivery of on-farm services to Minnesota's dairy farmers. Those who are open to change and have a sincere desire to stay in the dairy business have the most benefit. The program is available to all dairy producers, regardless of size or production, and is flexible and custom-fit to the needs of each dairy. Minnesota Dairy Initiative uses a team approach, combining the skills and experience of dairy industry professionals.

Dairy producers participating in the Minnesota Dairy Initiative program pay an annual program fee of $200. Scholarships are also available for each dairy farm to further advance their operation.

The farm’s team of dairy industry professionals could include the following depending on the dairy farm’s business goals and action plans.