When people think of dairy farmers they think about milk, cheese or yogurt – the yummy goodness you reach for in the fridge when it’s time to eat, snack or refuel. But have you ever thought about what dairy farmers bring to the table other than delicious dairy foods? The truth is that dairy farms contribute food, jobs, income and outreach in their local communities and beyond!
Once we’ve settled into our daily routines, most of us get our mornings going by 9 a.m. For Kyle Humphrey, a dairy farmer from Como, Texas, a big part of his day is already behind him. Humphrey & Humphrey Dairy has been in Kyle’s family for over 50 years and continuing the tradition as a dairy farmer has always been his dream. Despite the hard work and early mornings, he wouldn’t trade it for anything else.
Have you ever wondered where your milk comes from and how it gets from the farm to your table? Read on for a quick glimpse into the journey of milk from farm to fridge – how it’s produced, its freshness and simplicity, and the story that connects your glass of milk with the local dairy farm families who produce it.
Ninety-five percent of dairy farms in the United States are owned by families, and Coronado Dairy in Wilcox, Arizona, fits into that statistic. But what makes Coronado different is that collective ownership is offered to the many families that work on the dairy farm. Coronado Dairy is a part of Riverview, LLP, a limited liability partnership, that allows its employees to buy into the dairy after two years of employment.
Animal care is a big deal to dairy farmers. If cows aren’t happy, they don’t produce as much milk for everyone to enjoy. Which is why farmers spend a lot of time and effort making sure their cows have the right nutrition, environment and veterinary care. Thanks to dairy industry professionals like Dr. Noa Roman-Muniz, farmers have access to solutions to constantly improve cow care. What sets her apart is a dedication to animals through people and their communications with each other.
Most of us like the idea of giving back to our community, but the reality is there are few people who fully commit to devoting their time and resources. Tara Vander Dussen, fifth-generation dairy farmer from Clovis, New Mexico, has found a way to balance her busy life on and off the farm to support an organization that helps those in need.
Ever wish you could tour a dairy farm? Now you can do it digitally!
Hunter Ridge Dairy in Ault, Colorado, offers an interactive 360-degree view of their farm – from the calves to the freestall barns, milking parlor and more! (Our favorite parts are the bloopers of the curious cows licking the camera.)
For best results, use your smartphone and a virtual reality headset; but you can also click and drag the video to explore on a desktop.
We all know milk comes from cows. Some of us even think chocolate milk comes from brown cows. All jokes aside, how does the milk get from cows to our table?
“That’s easy!” you say. “You squeeze the udder and milk comes out!” While this is true, the days of dairy farmers pulling up a stool to milk cows one at a time are long behind us. This was a tedious, yet rewarding task, and dairy farmers have new technology that allows them to feed our growing world!
What do dairy farmers have in common with Silicon Valley? They’re highly innovative, and have been bringing sophisticated technology onto the farm long before it was the cool thing to do! Farmers today are using a range of technologies to improve animal welfare, environmental conservation and production efficiency. Here are three ways dairy farmers are going high-tech, farming well ahead of the curve.
You know the journey milk makes from the grocery store to your fridge, but have you ever wondered how it got to the store in the first place?
Here are five things you need to know about how milk gets from the farm to your fridge.
