Dairy Farmers Repurpose Barns for Pork Production

New video series shows how to convert former dairy facilities into efficient, profitable pork barns

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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As dairy farmers step out of the business, they are looking to repurpose their old barns for new agricultural enterprises. A new video series from the New York Pork Producers, in partnership with Cornell University's Pro-Dairy program, demonstrates how former dairy facilities can be transformed into productive pork barns through strategic planning and retrofitting.

Why it matters

With the decline of the dairy industry in parts of the Northeast, many farmers are seeking ways to utilize their existing infrastructure and resources. Converting dairy barns into pork production facilities allows farmers to diversify their operations and generate new revenue streams, while also reducing waste and maximizing the value of their existing assets.

The details

The video series, titled "From Dairy to Pork: Barn Conversion in Action", covers key considerations for repurposing dairy barns, including evaluating the cost-effectiveness of retrofitting versus building new, ensuring the structural integrity can support pigs, designing proper ventilation and waste management systems, and incorporating modern lighting and technology. Strategic Planning Specialist Tim Terry of Cornell University's Pro-Dairy program provides guidance on navigating the transition.

  • The "From Dairy to Pork" video series was recently released on YouTube.

The players

New York Pork Producers

An organization that represents pork producers in the state of New York and collaborated on the "From Dairy to Pork" video series.

Tim Terry

A Strategic Planning Specialist at Cornell University's Pro-Dairy program who provided expertise and guidance for the video series on converting dairy barns to pork production facilities.

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The takeaway

As the dairy industry continues to face challenges, this video series provides a roadmap for farmers to repurpose their existing infrastructure and resources into profitable pork production operations, helping to diversify agricultural enterprises in the Northeast region.