Did you know that June is Dairy Month?! I thought I would share some interesting facts about dairy farming and cows to start the month out right!
- 97% of all dairy farms are family owned.
- As of 2014, there were only 45,344 licensed dairy farms in the U.S.
- As of 2014, Washington State had 480 licensed dairy farms.
- The average herd size for Washington State is 569 cows.
- The top three commodities in Washington State are Apples, Dairy & Wheat.
- Washington State ranks 10th in total milk production.
- The top two counties in Washington State for milk production are Yakima & Whatcom County. Yakima County ranks 8th in the nation for milk production and Whatcom County ranks 33rd.
- The United States ranks 2nd in overall milk production. The European Union ranks 1st. The United States ranks 2nd for number of cows in milk production. So basically only counting cows milking and not young stock.
- All milk is antibiotic-free. All of Washington State is rBST-free. Our cooperative, Northwest Dairy Association is an rBST-free cooperative therefore all our farms do not use rBST. You do not have to buy organic if wanting to avoid its use or antibiotics.
For more dairy statistics for the United States visit Progressive Dairymen.
If you are on social media make sure to follow along with the hashtag #JuneDairyMonth to see what dairy farms across the country are sharing about their farm. I will be sharing fun facts about dairy cows as well as nutritional facts about dairy on Facebook, Instgram & Twitter.
Source: USDA & Progressive Dairymen
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Krista Stauffer
Owner at Stauffer Dairy
Krista didn't grow up on a farm but fell in love with a dairy farmer and now works alongside her husband on their family dairy farm, raising five children. Despite her non-farm upbringing, she embraces farm life, enjoys gardening, and remodeling their farmhouse. She also runs a successful women's boutique, manages social media for local businesses, and serves on the board of a non-profit creamery, showcasing her dedication to entrepreneurship and community service.
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