Dairy Farming

On a normal day, over 40 million Americans struggle to provide enough food for their families. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified this need, with food banks across the country experiencing two to three times the number of people needing assistance. There’s no question that this pandemic has created hardships for our communities, but it’s also reminded us that we’re all in this together.

It’s National Dairy Month, and we’re celebrating with some of our fave facts about dairy – including cool science experiments and life hacks!

1. It’s a beverage! It’s a science experiment! It’s both! While it’s best as a beverage, milk can also multitask as “plastic”. Just mix a cup of warm milk (zapped in the microwave for 90 seconds) with 4 tablespoons of vinegar. Stir for a few minutes, then strain and squeeze out the excess liquid. You’ll end up with a moldable “plastic” you can form into fun shapes that harden when it dries over a few days’ time!

No matter our daily obligations, most of us appreciate the aspects of our life that keep us comfortable and productive – like listening to our favorite music playlist or relaxing after a long day on a cushiony couch. You can actually compare these comforts to life on the farm for dairy cows. Cows are the center of a dairy, so farmers work hard to ensure their “girls” are as content as possible. After all, dairy cows do have the important job of turning plants humans can’t eat into nutritious dairy products!

When people think of dairy farmers, they might picture overalls and a pitchfork. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Dairy farmers are some of the most innovative and progressive people in all of agriculture, finding ways to do more with less in order to feed our growing population.

Manure happens on dairy farms – or any type of farm for that matter; it’s just a part of the process to get wholesome, nutritious dairy foods to your table! But did you know cow poop is part of a larger sustainability story? Dairy farmers are the original stewards of the environment and constantly work to manage resources and protect the land – even using manure for years to practice sustainability before it was even a word!

Sustainability, at its simplest, is all about using resources wisely so our communities and planet can thrive for generations to come. Much of the discussion around sustainability has centered on topics such as carbon footprints, greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental impact of food production. But what if sustainability means so much more?

The closest most people have been to visiting a dairy farm is shopping for their favorite milk, cheese, yogurt or ice cream. After all, farmers and ranchers who grow food only make up about 2% of the U.S. population. But no matter how disconnected you might feel, the truth is that most of us live within 100 miles or less from a local dairy farm.

There’s a saying among dairy farmers that if you take care of your cows, your cows will take care of you. That outlook has been passed down for generations, and dairy farmers today maintain the same commitment to cow care. The high-quality, wholesome and nutritious dairy foods we buy at the grocery story are available because farmers make sure their cows are always comfortable and healthy.