In recent decades, the dairy community has reduced the carbon footprint of milk by 63% due to improvements in animal breeding, animal health programs, cow comfort and overall farm management practices. Additionally, the industry has set new environmental sustainability goals to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality, optimize water usage, and improve water quality by 2050.

The latest research shows that the U.S. dairy industry accounts for only about 2% of the U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Dairy farmers are working on ways to reduce that figure even more. The dairy industry is committed to becoming carbon neutral or better by 2050.

Learn how our most recent US Dairy Sustainability Award winner, Rogue Creamery, uses solar energy to reduce their carbon footprint and make world award-winning cheese.

Did you know that water on dairy farms is a precious resource that is carefully monitored and reused several times?

Reusing and recycling water is standard practice on today’s dairy farms, starting with chilling milk. Water in milking parlors is used in cooling systems to quickly chill it to about 38 degrees, keeping it fresh from the farm to your refrigerator. That water is also used to flush dairy barns and is recaptured as a nutrient-rich resource to irrigate crops.

Dairy farmers are passionate about protecting the environment, just like you. They care about their farms and communities and strive to create a better world for everyone.

Want to learn more? Explore what dairy farmers are doing to be sustainable across the country at USDairy.com and join us on Instagram and Facebook to stay tuned for the most current news in Oregon!