LINCOLN, Neb. — New processing capacity and continued investment in value-added agriculture are creating opportunities for growth in Nebraska’s dairy industry.
Industry leaders gathered in Lincoln on Monday as Gov. Jim Pillen proclaimed June as National Dairy Month. The event also highlighted the future of dairy production in Nebraska and the economic benefits of expanding the industry.
Doug Temme, a dairy producer from Wayne and president of the Nebraska State Dairy Association, said new dairy processing facilities are helping position Nebraska for growth.
“We’re starting to see some new processing plants come in,” Temme said. “By getting the new processing plants, that allows for more growth and more dairies to move back to Nebraska and start growing the industry within the state.”
Temme said dairy expansion provides substantial economic benefits to local communities, noting that each dairy cow added to the state’s herd generates approximately $14,000 in annual economic activity while supporting local jobs.
Pillen said the state’s agricultural future depends on processing commodities within Nebraska rather than exporting raw products. He pointed to the dairy processing plant under construction near Seward as an example of that strategy.
“In order to have a thriving dairy industry, we can’t sell the commodity milk out. We have to process it,” Pillen said. “That’s the vision of agriculture in Nebraska.”
The Seward-area facility is expected to process shelf-stable milk products and is projected to open in early 2027. Pillen said Nebraska’s agricultural resources position the state for continued dairy expansion.
“We have the people, the water and the land,” he said. “It’s important for everybody to understand what kind of incredible opportunity we have here in Nebraska to grow the dairy industry.”
Temme said the National Dairy Month proclamation event provides an opportunity to highlight both the nutritional value of dairy products and the contributions dairy producers make to the state’s economy.
“It’s one time that we can showcase the great product that we make, the wholesome product that we have,” he said.