Celebrate National Dairy Month

June is National Dairy Month – a whole month dedicated to celebrating the dairy industry.

According to the International Diary Foods Association, National Dairy Month started out as National Milk Month in 1937 as a way to promote drinking milk. It was initially created to stabilize the dairy demand when production was at a surplus, but has now transitioned into an annual tradition that celebrates the contributions that the dairy industry has made to the world.

In Ohio, we know a little something about dairy.

Ohio has nearly 3,100 dairy farms located throughout the state and is home to 268,000 dairy cows. In 2011, Ohio’s dairy cows produced more than 605 million gallons of milk, meaning that the average farm produced enough milk to provide dairy products to more than 2,500 people each year.

The American Dairy Association also credits Ohio’s dairy industry as an essential part of our state’s success, acknowledging that: 

• Ohio ranks first in the nation in Swiss cheese production, fifth in the number of manufacturing plants, 10th in overall cheese production and 11th in overall milk production. 
• The estimated economic impact of Ohio’s dairy industry is $4.2 billion with a total of 14,350 jobs created for Ohioans.

With nearly 51,000 dairy farms nationwide, 97 percent are family owned. These dairy farmers work incredibly hard to provide safe, wholesome and nutrient-rich milk to the public, while caring for their animals and land. It’s more than fitting that they deserve our thanks. 

Before June ends, be sure to celebrate National Dairy Month and thank a dairy farmer if you know one. It’s also a great time for you to enjoy an extra scoop of ice cream guilt-free! 

Photo obtained from: icecreamjournal.turkeyhill.com

Dairy does a nation good

Since 1937, June has been designated as “Dairy Month.” Initially promoted to jumpstart summer milk sales during pasture season, its legacy lives on in celebration of dairy products’ nutritional benefits and the dairy industry’s contribution to the national economy.

According to the American Dairy Association, dairy is the No. 1 agricultural business in California, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin, greatly supplementing their state wealth.

Consider this case in point (State Sen. Darrel Albertine-NY):

“New York’s dairy industry is the foundation of the state’s agriculture industry, supporting the infrastructure necessary for farmers in all sectors, whether they produce fruits and vegetables or meat and poultry. Every job on a dairy farm creates another 1.24 jobs in the community and almost two dollars enter into the economy for every dollar generated by the sale of milk. Dairy processing creates nearly five jobs for every job in the plant and generates another $1.26 for every dollar of product sold. According to a 2002 study, each dairy cow has an economic impact of $13,737, meaning that two cows have the economic impact of creating a $27,500-valued job.”

Not only does the industry help consumers economically, but dairy farmers will also invest more than $250 million to help fight childhood obesity in schools by supporting access to naturally nutrient-rich foods, providing nutrition education and encouraging physical fitness, according to the National Dairy Council (NDC).

The nutritional benefits of milk, dairy’s most revered product, cannot be denied. In fact, it’s the most nutritious, natural drink available, containing protein, calcium, riboflavin, phosphorous, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and pantothenic acid.

In addition to dairy farmers playing roles in the health and wealth of society, they play an environmental role, as well.

A Cornell University study showed that in the past 60 years, dairy farmers have reduced their carbon emissions by 63 percent and the industry is committed to further reducing carbon emissions 25 percent by 2020, according to the NDC. Dairy farmers utilize advanced energy-saving technology and practice conservation methods to safeguard land, water and air.

Dairy Facts (DairyFarmingToday.org)

• 99 percent of all U.S. dairy farms are family owned
• Most milk is transported 100 miles or less from farm to grocery store
• There are about 60,000 U.S. dairy farms
• There are dairy farms in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico
• U.S. dairy farms produce roughly 21 billion gallons of milk annually

Like all industries, the dairy industry invests in its future. The American dairy industry is represented by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which represents most of the U.S.’ dairy marketing cooperatives. It has created a new roadmap for U.S. dairy policy called Foundation for the Future (FFTF).

FFTF proposes, “…much-needed change to many aspects of current dairy programs, some of which have existed for decades.” The group notes that today’s dairy market is influenced to a much greater degree by global demand, using the record dairy prices of 2008 and dramatic dairy-price decreases of 2009 as an example of this instability.

FFTF Recommendations
1) Revise existing Federal Support (Safety Net) Programs; 2) create a new Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program to protect against both severe and unsustainable loss of margin; 3) reform the Federal Milk Marketing Order system; and 4) establish a Dairy Market Stabilization Program to help address imbalances in dairy supply and demand.

The dairy industry is hopeful that legislators seriously consider these regulation changes to protect the agricultural sector.

Though dairy farms are valuable assets, recent media coverage has addressed dairy farm animal cruelty. Images of abused cows have been publicized to damage the reputation of livestock farmers nationwide, also tarnishing the dairy industry’s image. However, it’s important to note that these questionable images are not reflective of the majority of dairy farms throughout the country. Most dairy farmers understand the responsibility that accompanies their job and take pride in the proper care of their cows.

“Healthy cows produce high-quality products, so it doesn’t make sense for a farmer to give his or her cows anything less than the best treatment,” states DairyFarmingToday.

Consumers should be grateful for the dairy industry not only in June, but each month of the year. Dairy farms provide the cheese, yogurt, ice cream and other dairy products that make every day taste better.

Southern States writer Matt Mullen says it best in a recent story, “Dairy farming is a challenging business, and the people who provide milk and milk products deserve our support for their work on behalf of our health, environment and economy.”

*Photo obtained from: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100601/DC13435

Plummeting Milk Prices

America’s 57,000 dairy farmers witnessed elevated milk prices in 2007 and 2008. But as we entered 2009, decreased export demand, costly herd upkeep and oversupply caused milk prices to drop rapidly.

"Call it globalization,” said Roger Hoskin, a dairy analyst at the U.S. Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service. “When the export market is strong, they do well; when the export market is weak, domestic use is not enough.”

Besides selling it by the gallon, milk is sold for national and international use in processing other dairy products such as butter, yogurt and ice cream. Remaining product is converted to powdered milk, cheese and whey.

American Agriculturist cites 2007 conventional milk prices at $20 per hundredweight while pricing today’s average at $11 per hundredweight. The average price for a gallon of milk has declined 14.7 percent in the past 12 months, from $3.87 to $3.32, according to figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index. Dairy farmers are receiving 35 percent less than what they were paid last fall.

The health of commodity markets determines a dairy farmer’s dividends.

Unlike other farm sectors that can store excess product for future sale, dairy producers are forced to sell their product immediately.

Dairy operators are reducing herd sizes to decrease milk production and to save money on animal feed and care, and have also resorted to selling cows at fire-sale prices, or significantly lower-than-average market prices, to stay afloat. According to a USA Today article, there has been a 20 percent increase in cow slaughters from last year.

California, America’s No.1 dairy state producing $7 billion annually or one-fifth of the U.S.-milk supply, is receiving the blunt of the industry storm. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed June 2009 as “Real California Milk Month” in efforts to boost industry sales.

To assist a floundering market, the federal government is purchasing dairy products to normalize price levels and is allocating its purchases to national food banks and nutrition programs, as well as donation programs abroad.

The state of the U.S. economy isn’t helping matters. With increasing numbers of farmers in all commodities seeking loans, dairy farmers cannot depend on receiving financial assistance for security as in years past.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), a nationwide conglomerate of dairy farmers and cooperatives, is working to promote the demand of dairy consumption and the vitality of the American dairy industry.

How can the dairy industry reinvigorate interest in its products? Will milk prices stabilize if/when the global recession recovers? Should other farm industries be on the defense after witnessing the beef, pork and now dairy sectors experiencing a threatened existence?