National Dairy Month

National Dairy Month celebrations may look different in 2021, but they’ll provide unique ways to visit a farm and enjoy Wisconsin dairy. Whether it’s a drive-thru farm tour or a carry out package of local dairy products, dairy promotion groups are getting creative on ways for you to celebrate safely.

Wisconsin’s dairy farmers are dedicated to feeding the world. They work tirelessly to produce healthy products that families enjoy year-round and utilize the latest research and technology to be more efficient, sustainable, and secure a strong future for their children. Our state’s extensive infrastructure and leading food science and technology at the UW Center for Dairy Research puts the Badger state on the cutting edge of the global dairy industry. Wisconsin farmers are leading the dairy industry in three key areas.

Local dairy products make everything taste better. These new delicious and healthy seasonal recipes will pair nicely with your story.

The last year has changed the way we all live our lives and do business. But Wisconsin’s dairy industry continues to make a significant impact. Below are the latest stats and facts to help round out your dairy industry stories.

 

Economic Impact 

• Wisconsin dairy farmers work with cheesemakers to produce over 600 varieties, types and styles of Wisconsin cheese and 3.37 billion pounds of cheese annually. 

• The Wisconsin dairy industry generates a $45.6 billion economic impact, 1.26 billion in state and local taxes, and 154,000 jobs for the state annually.  

• There are more than 6,500 dairy farms in Wisconsin and 95% are family owned. 

• Wisconsin dairy products are enjoyed by more than 300 million consumers around the world.  

• These sources will provide additional details about Wisconsin’s dairy farms, cheese and a breakdown of the economic impact by county.  

Nutrition 

• Real dairy is a natural source of immune-boosting nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin D and protein. 

• The protein in dairy – whey and casein – keeps you feeling full longer, provides energy to fuel your day and helps muscles recover while you sleep. 

• Fermented dairy foods like yogurt are linked to health benefits including reduced inflammation, improved digestive health and healthy immune systems. 

• Milk offers a unique and powerful combination of essential nutrients – like Vitamin B12, zinc, iodine, calcium and protein – that are essential for immunity, cognitive development and performance. 
   

Sustainable Farming 

• The carbon footprint of a glass of milk is two-thirds less than it was 70 years ago, yet it still has the same nutritional benefits and great taste. 

• Wisconsin has over 28 dairy-farmer-led watershed groups that protect hundreds of thousands of acres of land and water. 

• Producing a gallon of milk has 19% less greenhouse gas emissions than it did in 2007. That’s equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by half a million acres of U.S. forest every year. 

• Thanks to the dairy community’s focus on sustainability, dairy farmers have shrunk their carbon footprint by 20%, and use 21% less land and 31% less water per gallon of milk than just three years ago.  
   

Female Farmers 

• 2017 U.S. census data shows a 16% increase in the number of female farmers in Wisconsin, just over 38,500; women make up 35% of all producers in the state. 

• Women landowners and farmers are a growing demographic. Many of them are leading local, state and national organizations such as Dairy Girl Network, Wisconsin Women in Conservation, Dairy Business Association, and Animal Agriculture Alliance.
   

History of National Dairy Month 

• Dairy farming has been a pillar of Wisconsin’s economy for more than 180 years.   

• National Dairy Month started out as National Milk Month in 1937 to promote drinking milk. In 1939, June Dairy Month became the official title of the promotion and focused on greater use of milk and other dairy products.  

• National Dairy Month is an annual tradition that celebrates the contributions the dairy industry makes to the state and the world. In Wisconsin, we celebrate National Dairy Month bigger than anywhere else with on-farm breakfast events and enjoyment of the world’s best dairy products.