The ultimate goal of this project is to improve Illinois dairy farms through education, accomplished through the science based innovation of the University of Illinois research and extension. The specific aim of this study was to investigate the association between bedding material and milk quality of dairy cows. Twenty dairy farms in Illinois located in the central (C), north (N), and south (S) regions were visited. During the visits, a questionnaire, DHI records along with the individual farm data set (PCDART or DAIRYCOMP305) were collected and a final data set with the combined information was built in excel for analysis. Cow’s bedding sample was a composite sample made from 3 different spots in the bed (front, center, and back). Bedding quality was evaluated by quantifying dry matter (DM) percentage, organic matter (OM) percentage, and particle size (PS). Dry matter analysis was performed in all types of bedding; OM and PS analyses were performed only in sand bedded farms (n = 12). Three replications for each sample were performed for PS to obtain particle size (μm), standard deviation, and particles per gram (p/g). Statistical analysis was performed using the UNIVARIATE and GLM procedures of SAS (v9.4). Sixteen farms (80%) used sand bedding; 32% of those farms combined sand with a different type of bedding such as straw or compost. Among the other 4 farms (20%), there were 2 farms (10%) with straw bedding, 1 farm (5%) was using sawdust, and only one farm (5%) had their cows on pasture. Differences for DM and OM were found between and within regions. On average the 12 farms that used sand as bedding had a 92 ± 8% of DM, 3 ± 2.7% of OM, milk yield per cow/d was 35.17 ± 6kg, and somatic cell count (SCC) tank was 204 ± 91 cells/mL. However there was a linear correlation (P = 0.05, R² = 0.32, SCC = 16.28OM +134.1) between OM and SCC, and no correlation (P = 0.3827) between DM and SCC, Southern IL had lower DM (88.4 ± 9) and OM (1.9 ± 0.8) percentage and higher somatic cell count (261.2 ± 179) than N or C. In conclusion, our results confirm the premise that farms with high OM bedding are associated with higher milk tank SCC.