Kaitlyn Nelson, Livestock Production Agent
Photo Courtesy of Canva
National Dairy Month is celebrated every year during the month of June throughout the United States. It is a month-long celebration of the contributions the dairy industry has made for more than 85 years. Originally started in 1937 as National Milk Month it was created as a way to promote drinking milk to U.S. consumers as there was a production surplus at the time. By 1939, June became the official dairy month. Whether it’s in coffee, cereal, or smoothies, adding one more serving of milk to your family’s day can help ensure they get the nutrients they need to build strong bones and teeth. Trusted for decades, dairy farm families pride themselves on producing wholesome dairy foods that help their families grow up strong and healthy.
To help celebrate dairy month here are some facts about the state’s dairy farms. Kansas is the 17th-ranked dairy state for milk production and is home to 175,000 dairy cows on 209 dairy farms. Roughly 80 to 85% percent of the milk produced in the state is produced in western Kansas on 29 large farms that originated since 1994. In Kansas, the average dairy cow produces about 7.55 gallons of milk per day. That’s more than 2,755 gallons of milk over the course of a typical year. There are six plants in the state that produce one or more dairy products. Kansas is also home to nine on-farm or specialty processing facilities that produce milk, cheese and ice cream, among other products.
The River Valley district is home to 4,500 dairy cows primarily spread between Clay and Washington counties. This number continues to grow as we see the expansion of dairy farms in the district to meet the demand of the consumer. Over the years, Kansas has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing dairy states. Kansas has established itself as a prime location in the U.S. for dairies with its abundant land, feed supply, ideal climate, proactive water policies, and positive business environment. Dairies offer jobs on the farm and throughout the industry in areas including trucking, breeding services and sales, repair services; and veterinary, pharmaceutical, nutrition and other consulting services. Today and every day, dairy farmers are committed to producing the delicious and nutritious dairy foods we all know and enjoy. They work around-the-clock to care for their animals and protect their environment because it’s what they love to do! The next time you are consuming a dairy product during the month of June send a great big thank you to the dairy farmers that rise before the sun and spend countless hours ensuring you have a safe wholesome product to enjoy.
Let’s celebrate the dairies in the River Valley District throughout the entire month of June
