June has been declared as Dairy Month in Nebraska. The official proclamation was made by Nebraska Director of Agriculture Sherry Vinton, along with representatives from the Nebraska State Dairy Association and Midwest Dairy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Dairy Store.
Kris Bousquet, executive director of the Nebraska State Dairy Association states, “Dairy Month in Nebraska is an awesome opportunity for us to celebrate farmers. We’re excited about the opportunity in the near future. It’s going to be an amazing time for not only the dairy industry but for crop farmers and beef producers across the state.”
June Dairy Month first started as a way to distribute extra milk during the warmer months of the summer. By 1939, June became the official “dairy month” and is still celebrated today.
The American Farm Bureau lists Dairy Month facts:
- It takes 12 lbs. of whole milk to make 1 gallon of ice cream.
- It takes 10 lbs. of milk to make 1 lb. of cheese; the U.S. produces more than 300 varieties of cheese.
- 95% of U.S. dairy farms are family owned and operated.
- Dairy farmers have decreased their carbon footprint by 2/3 since 1960.
- Holstein cattle, which are known for their black and white markings, are the most common dairy cattle in the U.S.
- Milk travels from the farm to the grocery store in about 48 hours.
- The average U.S. dairy farm has 337 cows producing milk; production across the nation totals 226 billion pounds annually.
According to the American Farm Bureau, dairy farmers and producers are good stewards of the environment, and they continue to look for ways to improve and learn sustainable practices. Whether it’s in coffee, cereal, or smoothies, adding one more serving of milk can help ensure you are getting the nutrients needed to build and maintain strong bones.
