Life without dairy is not sustainable. So dairy is becoming more sustainable.

Dairy is good for you and made with care for the planet. From the farm to your fridge, U.S. dairy is taking steps to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainability isn’t new or a trendy term for farmers. Here’s how dairy farmers, like Hildebrand Farms Dairy, are making environmental sustainability progress:  

Sustainable Carbon Footprint

  • Dairy farmers have already reduced their carbon footprint by 19%. Source

  • Dairy farmers are putting in the work to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) neutrality by 2050. Source

Sustainable water usage

  • It’s only waste if you waste it – water is recycled up to four times on dairy farmers resulting in dairy farmers using 30% less water than ever before. Source

  • The environmental impact of producing a gallon of milk is significantly lower today, requiring 30% less water to produce a gallon of milk than it did just 15 years ago. Source

Sustainable animal care

  • Cows come first. More than 98% of the nation’s milk comes from farms that provide exceptional cow care (as verified by the National Dairy FARM program). FARM stands for Farmers Assuring Responsible Management.

  • From working with nutritionists and veterinarians, to installing water misters and back scratchers, dairy farmers continually strive to provide high-quality care to their cows. Source

Sustainable waste

  • Manure is composted to minimize environmental impact and improve soil health, which benefits the crops farmers grow to feed their cows. Source

  • Up to one-third of a dairy cow’s diet comes from agriculture and manufacturing byproducts, like cotton seeds and distillers’ grains, which helps to reduce food waste and methane emissions in landfills. Source  

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Catherine Neville