From frosty ice cream to creamy yogurt to an ice-cold glass of milk, dairy products help you beat the heat in the summertime. Some other popular dairy products include butter, cream, and cheese. During National Dairy Month, we celebrate the hardworking farmers that produce these products nationwide.
Milk production in the United States is a critical component of the country’s agriculture sector. However, according to USDA data, today there are less than half of the licensed dairy farms in the U.S. than there were nearly two decades ago. While the number of dairy farms is decreasing, those that remain are more productive thanks to automation.
Large farms dominate in California, while small farms band together as members of milk cooperatives to leverage economies of scale. Believe it or not, nearly 97% of all dairy farms in the U.S. are still family-owned and operated, many by multiple generations of the same family.
The leading milk-producing states are California and Wisconsin, followed by New York, Texas and Idaho, but all U.S. states have dairy farms. Even Alaska has one dairy farm!
Threemile Canyon Farms is the largest dairy farm in the nation, with 70,000 Jersey cows on 93,000 acres in Boardman, Oregon. All the milk produced here is used to make Tillamook cheese. Yum!
Got milk? Cow’s milk is naturally rich in calcium and other essential nutrients like B12 and potassium. Milk is also naturally high in protein (about 8 grams per cup), making it a great healthy choice for muscle-building and overall nutrition.
Local dairies often sell fresh organic milk, butter and cream direct to the public. For those of us who grew up in rural areas, there’s nothing better than ice cream and bottled milk straight from the dairy!
Learn more about National Dairy Month and the country’s dairy farmers in the infographic below.
Thank you to the folks at FarmFlavor.com for this infographic!
