Family diversifies tricentennial dairy farm

Meet Robbie and Shannon Dygert, 13th-generation dairy farmers of Dygert Farms in Palatine Bridge, New York, an operation that has been in the family for more than 300 years. The original farmstead was deeded to the family in 1723 by the British royal family and has been run as a dairy ever since. Robbie and Shannon took over ownership of the farm in 2009 to steer it into the fourth century of operation.

Robbie and Shannon started milking 50 cows in a tie stall barn. Since then, they have gradually expanded the operation to milking 250 cows, housed in two freestalls, and converted the old tiestall barn into a double-eight parallel milking parlor.

Looking for ways to diversify the farm, the Dygerts established Dygert Farms Creamery in 2015 with the hope they would one day bottle and sell their own milk. In the early days of the creamery, Robbie and Shannon bought and distributed milk to local businesses and through home delivery, which also allowed them to build their customer base. Their hope became reality in 2021 when they began processing their own milk to sell in local grocery stores, farm stands, home delivery and in their farm store.

The Dygerts bottle and sell whole, two percent and skim milk, as well as whole chocolate milk and half and half. They also offer seasonal options, including eggnog during the holidays and maple-flavored milk in the spring. In addition to their dairy products, they sell other local products, such as meat, cheese, baked goods, maple syrup and canned goods.

The Farm Storage Facility Loan program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency helped Robbie and Shannon throughout the creamery expansion. The program provides low-interest financing for producers to build or upgrade permanent and portable storage facilities and equipment.

“The storage loans make great business sense,” said Robbie. “The low interest and annual payment allow us to plan and pay the loan off in a comfortable timetable. Plus, they are easier to procure than commercial lending can be.”