<\/p>\n

It\u2019s June Dairy Month, making it the perfect time to celebrate dairy farm families (like ours) that provide safe, wholesome, sustainable dairy foods for you to enjoy. The observance was created in 1937 as a way to help distribute extra milk when cows started on pasture in the summer months. June Dairy Month is also a great time to talk about the many health benefits that dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt deliver. Loaded with 9 essential nutrients like calcium, potassium, protein and phosphorus, dairy foods contribute significant nutrition to everyone\u2019s diet.<\/p>\n

While our Dairy Month celebration only spans 30 days, our dedication to \u201chands-on\u201d work runs year-round. Dairy farmers are committed to producing safe, high-quality milk and dairy products 365 days a year. That commitment to quality means taking excellent care of our animals and the land. It is also more than just simply milking our cows.<\/p>\n

Dairy farms are focused on everything from the feed a cow will consume to water conservation to the development of renewable energy sources.<\/h4>\n

In the United States, there is a trend towards greater understanding the food chain. \u201cConsumers are searching for a connection to where their food comes from,\u201d notes St. Louis District Dairy Council dietitian Monica Nyman. In just this country alone, there are about 51,000 dairy farms. According to the National Agriculture Statistics Service, in Illinois there are about 690 licensed dairy herds, ranking the state 22nd in total milk production. Dairy farms can be found in all 50 states, with 98% of them being family owned. The other 2% include farms which are university-owned (like the dairy at the University of Illinois), company-owned (like Purina and Hoard\u2019s Dairyman) and corporately-owned (like Horizon Organics).<\/p>\n

The special link between farmers and consumers is really the basis of what June Dairy Month is all about \u2013 celebrating and using a wonderful product that\u2019s natural, fresh, and good for you.<\/h4>\n

As we continue the more than 75-year tradition of celebrating dairy foods this month, let\u2019s not forget to honor the hardworking devoted dairy farmers who make it all possible. Here\u2019s to dairy farmers\u2014they are the real deal!<\/p>\n

Cheers!<\/p>\n

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  It\u2019s June Dairy Month, making it the perfect time to celebrate dairy farm families (like ours) that provide safe, wholesome, sustainable dairy foods for you to enjoy. The observance was created in 1937 as a way to help distribute extra milk when cows started on pasture in the summer months. June Dairy Month is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1047,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[393],"tags":[81,220,239,352],"yoast_head":"\n