Dairy Farmers of America’s Post

It's been 12 years since our very first trial of cow with calf dairy farming. That first trial ended in disaster, but it taught us a lot. As 2024 draws to a close, David has written a new blog reflecting on our journey to a system of sustainable, high welfare dairy farming that is starting to attract serious interest. "Something is happening. Not just in the UK, but across Europe and North America. It started as a trickle 4 or 5 years ago and while it is still small, the interest is growing steadily. "The data that we and others are producing is stirring serious interest in the academic community, and those academics who showed interest a few years ago are now sitting up and taking notice. ... "Getting independent academic verification that this is a valid system of dairying, not just a gimmick, is great, but there has also been quite a bit of interest from students and young farmers this year. Things are beginning to change. Slowly, very slowly, but surely, things are beginning to happen. "As some of you will have noticed, our blog post a few weeks ago about this went viral on Facebook. Initially we feared that we were under attack, there were lots of negative comments, many from vegan activists. But that post reached nearly half a million people, and of the 6000+ engagements received, over 98% were positive. "Perhaps it’s not too naïve to believe that one day, this way of farming really could transform dairy?" https://lnkd.in/eqB44vw8 *The photo accompanying the blog is from earlier this year. The cows and calves are currently indoors in their winter housing, but will be back out to pasture in spring. TransformDairyNet #cowcalfdairy #ethicaldairy #raintonfarm

FARM REPORT: Milton Orr looked across the rolling hills in northeast Tennessee. “I remember when we had over 1,000 dairy farms in this county. Now we have less than 40,” Orr, an agriculture adviser for Greene County, Tenn., told me with a tinge of sadness. That was six years ago. Today, only 14 dairy farms remain in Greene County, and there are only 125 dairy farms in all of Tennessee. Across the country, the dairy industry is seeing the same trend: In 1970, more than 648,000 U.S. dairy farms milked cattle. By 2022, only 24,470 dairy farms were in operation.

FARM REPORT: Milton Orr looked across the rolling hills in northeast Tennessee. “I remember when we had over 1,000 dairy farms in this county. Now we have less than 40,” Orr, an agriculture adviser for Greene County, Tenn., told me with a tinge of sadness. That was six years ago. Today, only 14 dairy farms remain in Greene County, and there are only 125 dairy farms in all of Tennessee. Across the country, the dairy industry is seeing the same trend: In 1970, more than 648,000 U.S. dairy farms milked cattle. By 2022, only 24,470 dairy farms were in operation.

A new The Minnesota Star Tribune article highlights a vital truth: small family farms are the backbone of rural communities, and organic dairy farming is crucial to their survival. At Organic Valley, we’re proud to be part of the solution. Farms like the Hass family's in Westby, Wisconsin, have found stability through organic practices, offering a lifeline where conventional dairies struggle. By choosing small family farms, they thrive and sustain the schools, businesses, and people that keep rural America vibrant. As our CEO Jeff Frank says, “When family farms succeed, so do our communities.” We’re excited to welcome 100 new farmers to the Organic Valley family this year, each helping ensure a bright future for rural America. Together, we’re not just saving farms but revitalizing our heartland. Read the full article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune to learn more about how organic milk saves farms and revitalizes rural communities: https://lnkd.in/dYxKkibY #smallfamilyfarms #ruralrevitalization

Historic Muslim-Christian Partnership to Combat Food Insecurity in Whitehaven. Memphis, TN—A historic partnership between Muslim and Christian organizations is bringing economic empowerment and fresh, locally grown produce to Whitehaven. The Memphis Dawah Association (MDA), a Muslim nonprofit that has served Whitehaven for over 15 years, has secured a $1 million reimbursement grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency to expand its community initiatives. Joining forces with Trice’s Ministries, a Christian urban farming ministry, MDA has launched the Külliye Mustard Seed Farm at 3415 Millbranch Road. The Külliye Mustard Seed Farm is more than just a source of fresh produce—it’s an educational and functional farm designed to train residents in sustainable agriculture and pest-free farming techniques to provide healthy produce to their neighbors through a Whitehaven Farmer’s Market at the site. As part of this project, MDA will also issue micro-grants and training opportunities for local urban farmers and community gardens, strengthening the area's food systems and supporting local growers. It builds on MDA and Trice’s Ministries’ long-standing commitment to the Whitehaven community, demonstrated through its mobile food pantry, literacy programs, language classes, and public lectures. The Külliye Mustard Seed Farm represents a powerful story of faith, collaboration, and community impact. This unique Muslim-Christian partnership represents a powerful example of how collaboration across faiths can create sustainable, meaningful change. For media inquiries, additional information, or opportunities to get involved, please contact: Christian Kirk 901-848-1742

Happy National Dairy Month! June is National Dairy Month, a time to celebrate the incredible contributions of our dairy farmers and the delicious, nutritious products they provide us with every day. From the rich, creamy goodness of yogurt to the irresistible allure of cheese, dairy products play a vital role in our diets and our lives. Celebrating Our Dairy Farmers Our dairy farmers are the backbone of the dairy industry, working tirelessly year-round to ensure we have access to fresh, high-quality dairy products. Here's why we owe them a huge THANK YOU: 1. Commitment to Quality: Dairy farmers uphold the highest standards of animal care and product quality, ensuring that every glass of milk and slice of cheese is safe, nutritious, and delicious. 2. Sustainable Practices: Many dairy farmers are leading the way in sustainable farming practices, implementing innovative techniques to reduce environmental impact and promote the health of our planet. 3. Community Support: Dairy farms often serve as vital components of local economies, providing jobs and supporting other local businesses. By choosing dairy, we're helping to sustain these communities. 4. Passion and Dedication: Farming is not just a job; it's a way of life. Dairy farmers demonstrate incredible dedication, often working long hours in all weather conditions to care for their animals and land. Let's take this month to appreciate the hard work and passion of our dairy farmers. When we enjoy our favorite dairy products, let's remember the hands and hearts that made it possible.

𝗨𝗦𝗗𝗔 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 $𝟭𝟭𝗠 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘂𝗺-𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀: 𝗔 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗼𝗺 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗸: Even with recent improvements in profit margins from higher milk prices and lower feed costs, dairy farmers know all too well the struggle of tough years. This reality has hit small and medium-sized farms especially hard, where every decision can make the difference between staying afloat or sinking under the weight of challenges. To combat this, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that $11.04 million in new funding will be issued to help support dairy businesses and producers under the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBI) grant program. According to the USDA, these initiatives will help support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products. “88% of farm families in the country today require off farm income to be able to keep the farm,” Vilsack recently said to the attendees at World Dairy Expo. “The question is are we satisfied with that? I don't think we are. I think there's a genuine desire to figure out ways in which we can help small and mid-sized farming operations that sell less than $350,000-$500,000 in sales. They're not only important to agriculture, but they’re also really important to rural communities. Because if you lose farms, you lose the farm family.” Building on that point, Vilsack emphasized the need for new strategies to support small and mid-sized farms. He believes it's not enough to rely solely on support programs; instead, the focus should be on empowering these farms to create multiple income streams directly from their operations. “We've got to create an opportunity for these small and mid-sized operations to be able to profit,” Vilsack noted. “And it can't just be support programs. It's got to be a new and creative model in which we essentially challenge ourselves to figure out ways in which those same farm families can generate more than one source of income from their farming operation. So, we've attempted to do that with some several basic strategies.” #DairyManufacturingUSA #DairyProductionUSA #DairyOperationsUSA

⚠️Listen up....⚠️ We are going to tell you the uncensored truth about dairy farming! 👇🏻 -The truth is dairy farming is hard. 💪🏻 -The truth is farmers receive only 15 cents out of every dollar spent on food (in 1980, farmers received 31 cents); the rest goes for costs beyond the farm gate: wages, materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. 💰 -The truth is that 97% of dairying is a multi-generational family business; with women making up 30% of the total number of US farm operators. -The truth is dairy farms across the US employ millions of people whose livelihoods & families incomes depend on our success; and we take that very seriously. 👨🌾🧑🏽🏭👨🏼💻👷🏾♂️ -The truth is some groups lead you to believe we treat our animals poorly, when in reality great amounts of attention is paid to the quality of care that they receive. -The truth is that no matter the “size” of the dairy farm, we care for our animals as if they are extensions of our families. -The truth is we grieve at the loss of our cows. 😞 -The truth is we care for the land and strive to be respectful stewards of it. 🌾 ♻️ -The truth is that NY has lost over 2,100 dairy farms since 2012; that's more than 20% of the total dairy farms in NYS. -The truth is there are just over 35,000 dairy farms remaining in the US, this number dropped 8.8% in just the last year alone! -The truth is less than 2% of the population feeds everyone else, yet many believe they know more about farming than a farmer, although they have never set foot on a farm or walked a day in our shoes.... 🥾 This is REAL dairy farming. There's lots of blood, sweat and tears that go into each and everyday it's who we are and what we were put on this earth to do. We're not asking for sympathy, just for some understanding and trust, and....if you ever have questions about the dairy farming....ask a farmer....not Google. (Copied)

The Tomadl family is well respected for their creative responses to farming. Check out this article about their latest effort to aggregate grass based dairy. If you like this, also check out their work to create a farmer apprenticeship akin to apprenticeships in the trades. https://lnkd.in/gprqrrrD What good ideas do farmers have in your region? How can you assist in making these ideas a reality? #foodsystems

Our event is due to take place on the 14th of May at Winters Lane Storage Ltd, Winters Lane, Long Sutton, Spalding, PE12 9BE and is kicking off at 9.30am. Hopefully the ☀ shines for us! Follow the link below to secure your free ticket ⬇ https://lnkd.in/eVnDVBuj Some information about the event: GB Potatoes (in partnership with Potato Storage Insight and SDF Agriculture) have launched a new project to help refine potato storage practices with the aim to fine tune practices through on farm research and learning. Rather than reviewing older trials results on paper, the partnership believes that it is better to run pro active activity helping growers to improve their understanding of potato storage, and ultimately maintain control of ever-increasing costs. At the event, various aspects of potato storage are being tested and monitored. This will be an opportunity for visitors to hear from Adrian Cunnington (Potato Storage Insight) and Simon Faulkner (SDF Agriculture) talk through areas of the work that they have been conducting at Winters Lane and the nearby Gedney Dyke stores. Topics being covered will include cold storage strategies for fresh potatoes, featuring Maleic Hydrazide uptake and storage regimes such as cold temperatures and ethylene as well as other products. Store design in terms of air flow and the evenness of temperatures throughout the store as well as insulation, respiration and dormancy will also feature. Additionally, a look at varieties from a PCN trial and how they store under the different regimes. After a hog roast lunch, the other 21 partners in the project will be on hand to discuss their businesses and what they can offer growers. There will be the chance to travel the very short distance to the processing store at Gedney Dyke where two storage strategies will feature and a look at dormancy break, respiration and weight loss information from the Produce Quality Centre pods will be discussed as well as a look at fry colours from each storage regime. Roger Stones, from NFU Energy, will be on hand to talk all things energy use and saving and Richard Colgan will be talking about the Produce Quality Centre pods that have been used to measure respiration.