Committed to Sustainability

Water is important on dairy farms, and reusing it is just as important. It is recycled on the farm in several ways:

1. In the refrigeration systems that cool the temperature of fresh milk after being collected
2. To clean cows’ udders after the milking process is completed
3. To flush out calf barns
4. To flush the lanes where cows stand while eating
5. In the manure lagoon which is used to fertilize crops
6. In methane digesters that use gas to produce energy

All dairy farms must meet the standards for manure storage, handling, and recycling set forth by their state and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By combining scientific advancements and on-farm sensibilities, dairy farmers continually look for new ways to be sustainable. Examples of sustainable farming practices include:

• Crop rotation to mitigate weeds and improve soil quality
• No-tillage or reduced tillage crop farming for soil and fuel conservation
• The use of new products with enhanced environmental benefits

Did you know cow manure is used to power plants, soil, and everything else? It’s a natural organic fertilizer, which farmers use on their crops to reduce the need for fossil fuel or other unnatural fertilizers. It holds more moisture than regular soil, increasing nutrient retention and reducing soil erosion. Manure is even used as a power source through the use of methane digesters and excess biogas can even be sold back to electric grids!

Did you know the U.S. dairy industry accounts for only about 2% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions? In fact, thanks to modern and innovative dairy farming practices, the environmental impact of producing a gallon of milk in 2017 shrunk significantly compared to 2007 – requiring 30% less water, 21% less land, and a 19% smaller carbon footprint. The dairy industry and its farmers aren’t stopping there and have 2050 sustainability goals that include:

• Achieve GRG neutrality
• Optimize water use while maximizing recycling
• Improve water quality by optimizing utilization of manure and nutrients

Did you know an average of 26.5 pounds of byproduct feeds are eaten by each milking cow daily in the United States. They are eating byproducts that humans cannot eat, like sugar beet pulp. Some dairy farmers even partner with local businesses like grocers and stores to feed their cows products these partners are unable to sell, like expired fruit, chocolate, and spent brewers grains.