How are dairy farmers being good stewards of the land?
Most dairy farmers live and work on their farms, so it’s important to them to protect the land, water and air for their families, surrounding communities and future generations. Environmental practices on all dairy farms are tightly regulated by both federal and state agencies. While requirements vary from state to state, most dairy farmers consistently meet or exceed these regulations. Dairy farmers employ a wide range of environmentally sound practices, ranging from basic manure management programs to high-tech systems that convert cow manure to electricity. Animal manures are a valuable fertilizer and soil conditioner, if applied under proper conditions at crop nutrient requirements. Dairy farmers are required to have a nutrient management plan that includes scientific analysis of the soil to ensure the proper amount of manure is spread.
