The Modern Dairy Industry: A Celebration and Recognition

Many Americans rely on dairy products for their diets. The average American consumes 276 pounds of dairy per year. Many people misunderstand dairy, despite its undeniable impact on society.

FREMONT, CA: Dairy is an essential component of the diets of millions of Americans. The average American consumes 276 pounds of dairy products per year. However, despite its undeniable impact on society, a significant portion of the population frequently misunderstands dairy.

What is known (or should be known) is that dairy is one of the most critical industries in agriculture today. Dairy has many benefits, from technological advances to its economic impact to its efforts to become more environmentally friendly, such as robotic milking machines. It's important to recognize—and celebrate—the benefits of dairy.

 Listed below are some additional details and perspectives regarding their significance.

U.S. dairy farms now produce more milk, despite having fewer cows than in 1944: The United States is one of the world's largest dairy and dairy-related products. The United States produced more than 223 billion pounds of milk in 2020. The United States had 116 billion pounds of milk in 1944. This represents an increase of over 107 billion pounds despite the reduction of 16 million cows. Innovations within the industry have enabled these productivity advances. Modern parlor systems and even more recent robotic milkers have made milking simpler than ever. This, coupled with the innovations in monitoring and maintaining a cow's health throughout its lifespan, has enabled a significant increase in production. Simply put, modern cows are healthy, content, and prolific.

The dairy industry contributes 3.5 percent to the nation's gross domestic product. Comparatively, the complete automotive sector contributes 3 percent: Dairy plays a crucial role in the U.S. economy due to the massive amount of dairy produced. It contributes over $752 billion annually to the U.S. gross domestic product, accounting for nearly 3.5 percent of the US GDP. Comparatively, the auto industry accounts for 3 percent of the U.S. economy. This $752.93 billion is directly attributable to the industry's over 3 million employees. They range from manufacturing dairy-related equipment, operating and managing dairy farms, and processing dairy into popular foods like cheese and ice cream. Those who depend on the dairy industry earn over $41.6 billion in wages. 

Dairy producers across the United States use a variety of environmentally friendly innovations: The dairy industry continues to find ways to reduce the industry's environmental impact with all the productivity gains and contributions it has made to the U.S. economy. In the past 25 years, the dairy industry has reduced its carbon output by 63 percent, water consumption by 65 percent, and methane production by 55 percent. Technology and more efficient agricultural practices are the two most significant contributors to these gains. These advancements have affected every aspect of rearing and milking cattle, from the production of feed to the milking and management of livestock to the actual handling of manure. New technologies even enable producers to capture methane and convert it to electricity. Additionally, this manure can be used as an organic fertilizer. One 750-pound dairy heifer can generate enough manure to fertilize 2,700 acres.

Ninety-seven percent of the over 34,000 dairy farms in the United States are family-owned and operated: All of these benefits are attributable to innovation. However, a prevalent misconception is that the dairy industry is dominated by large corporate farms that can utilize all these technologies. Contrary to popular belief, 97 percent of the over 34,000 dairy farms in the United States are family-owned and operated. These families work day and night to produce one of the most crucial and indispensable foods for the American diet. 

Dairy is an outstanding source of essential nutrients necessary for life: The final result of their labor, dairy, contains 18 of the 22 essential nutrients required for life, and the USDA recommends two to three daily servings. The health benefits continue beyond there. In addition to promoting cardiac health and lowering blood pressure, dairy consumption may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

In general, the dairy industry has advanced significantly since the days when a farmer would go to the stable with a milk pail and stool. Farmers can now remotely monitor a cow's health, use machines to milk the cows, and even generate electricity from manure. This has resulted in numerous gains in productivity and environmental sustainability while the dairy industry continues to produce some of the healthiest foods available. Undeniably, the dairy industry significantly impacts most Americans' lives, and this should be celebrated.