New England Dairy Economic Impact Study
In 2025, NE-DBIC funded research on the impacts of New England’s dairy economy.
The research was led by Camoin Associates, an economic development consultancy. The findings are impressive.
New England dairy by the numbers:
- 925 dairy farms across the region
- 133 dairy plants
- $6.3 billion in direct output
- 27,000 jobs supported across the regional economy
- $2 billion of supported labor income
- $9.7 billion in total economic contribution.
In their research, Camoin quantified the dairy sector’s economic contributions.
Their goal was to understand how dairy products move across and beyond New England, evaluate where value is created and captured, and assess how public investments are shaping the industry’s future. This study analyzes:
- Regional and state-level (in New England) economic contributions
- Supply chain flows and trade dynamics
- Value chain structure and pricing relationships
- Public investment programs and outcomes
These findings help tell the story of a sector that is deeply rooted in New England’s history while remaining vital to its economic and cultural future. The final report includes an in-depth discussion of state-by-state and regional impacts of dairy farming, dairy processing, and other directly related jobs that support the dairy sector.
Read the Final Report:
Farm Farm to Region: The Economic Power of New England’s Dairy Industry
