Abbi Groves is an economist in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange research division, primarily supporting the dairy and animal protein sectors.
Prior to joining CoBank, Abbi worked at the Riverview LLP large dairy-beef cross calf ranch in New Mexico, at Land O’Lakes as a dairy calf and heifer specialist in Wisconsin, and at her family’s dairy feed and manure equipment manufacturing business in Tulare, California. She volunteers in 4-H, the Junior Holstein Association and FFA. Abbi is among 0.5% of FFA members to earn the American FFA Degree, the highest National FFA Organization honor.
Abbi earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Washington State University and a master’s degree in animal science from University of Minnesota, where she studied economics, commodity marketing and statistical analysis as a Hueg-Harrison Fellow.
Agricultural commodity reports
Dairy replacements should begin a slow rebuild in 2027 and 2028
Strong consumer demand for high-quality protein is driving record beef prices and double-digit growth in protein-rich dairy products.
Protein’s promise for meat snack growth
Sales of meat snacks have grown by over 45% in the past four years to $4.4 billion.
Consumer demand remains relentless, producer opportunity offered mixed signals
The brightest spot in the animal protein segment over the past couple of years has been consumer demand. Americans are still overwhelmingly choosing protein as retail meat department dollar sales were up 6.8% and unit sales were 2% higher for the 52 weeks ending January 2026, according to Circana sales data.
Dairy poised to help meet consumers’ growing demand for protein
Consumer demand for foods with high-quality protein continues to surge. This demand has shifted buying patterns in dairy and beyond. Ultimately, this transformation in the retail space will significantly impact dairy processors and food manufacturers for the foreseeable future.
The Quarterly: AI won’t eliminate need for college grads
Despite rising fears, artificial intelligence is unlikely to spark a jobs apocalypse for recent college graduates.
While U.S. leads milk component growth, butterfat may be growing too fast
Responding to milk price signals over the past decade coming from consumer demand for more nutrient-dense dairy products, U.S. dairy farms delivered milk with growing levels of butterfat and protein – the components for making cheese, butter and yogurt.
Dairy heifer inventories to shrink further before rebounding in 2027
The U.S. dairy industry stands at a unique inflection point previously unseen in its modern-day history
The Quarterly: Where have the workers gone?
Lower fertility rates, declining labor force participation, and lower net immigration are combining to squeeze labor supply. With the labor supply in rural America set to get tighter, technology – most obviously AI and robotics – will likely be at the core of any strategy to address the oncoming labor squeeze.
Pork’s opportunity to reconnect with U.S. consumers has never been bigger
The National Pork Board’s new marketing campaign capitalizes on flavor and features a variety of recipes and convenient cooking techniques
The Quarterly: Historic shift in trade policy risks long-term loss of trust
CoBank’s Q1 2025 Quarterly report examines the economic forces shaping rural America, highlighting key shifts across agriculture, energy, communications, and financial markets as the year begins.
Unprecedented genetic gains are driving record milk components
Stronger genetics are pushing U.S. milk components to record highs, creating new opportunities across the dairy market.
Beef-on-dairy data suggests opportunity for feedlots and processors
As the U.S. cattle herd continues to shrink to the lowest inventory since 1951, feedlots are pulling cattle from nearly every source they can find. Tight supplies and unwavering consumer demand have pushed cattle prices to new record highs, further straining packer margins.