Dairy Business Plan Summary

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Dairy Farm Business Summary Program (DFBS)! This is a powerful tool for financial analysis and decision making, customized to your operation. For more than 60 years, DFBS program has connected dairy managers work with Cornell Cooperative Extension and PRO-DAIRY farm business management educators to organize their financial and production data and enter the data annually into the web-based DFBS program. Participating farms receive an 18-page report that includes annual financial statements and detailed analyses of their dairy enterprise, crop program, capital and labor efficiency, and profitability. Participating farms can compare their business to the average performance of other farms. Records submitted by participating farms provide the basis for applied research, extension education, and classroom teaching, benefiting the broader New York dairy industry. Participation is free for New York farms, and individual farm data are kept strictly confidential.

Improved record keeping systems & information access through participation in the program empowers dairy producers to:

• Analyze finances with annual consolidated statements
• Set financial and production goals
• Identify strengths and opportunities for improvement in the operation
• Make sound financial decisions
• Track changes in the business over time
• Benchmark performance against other participating farms

To get started, schedule an appointment with our Ag Issue Team Leader & Educator, Desiree Keever, and together you will work through the data collection needed for your customized farm report. Remember this is a tool to assist you and your business needs; we will work with what you have and develop what you need going forward. All individual farm information and identification will be kept strictly confidential, between you and your Educator.

Last updated January 28, 2026