Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

Thanks to our partners at AgWest Farm Credit and Stacy Baker for featuring us recently and allowing me to talk about one of my favorite topics – soil health.   “We talk a lot about soil health, animal health and environmental health,” says Austin. “In nature, these symbiotic systems are all connected, and they build on each other. My dad, Jerry, is a longtime potato grower. For years we’ve used a system of rotating cover crops and no-till practices to build organic matter in the soil and sequester carbon. Then we’ve added cows in the farming ecosystem to upcycle the byproducts – potato culls and things humans can’t digest – to produce high-quality protein and nutrient-rich compost that goes back to our fields.”   Here's the link to the full article:

Thank you, Illinois Milk Producers Association, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc., and partners for donating a combined 17,424 pounds of milk, including lactose-free to Northern Illinois Food Bank, Central Illinois Food Bank and Eastern Illinois Food Bank in celebration of June being National Dairy Month. 🐄

We're nearing the end of June, which is National Dairy Month, an annual celebration of the vital role dairy foods play in delivering quality nutrition to help nourish the world. As President of National Dairy Council, I’m always excited to talk about the health, wellness and enjoyment benefits of dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt—true nutrition and culinary powerhouses that deserve celebration not only in June, but all year long. Perhaps what I’m most excited about are the modern functional wellness benefits dairy foods offer. I’m talking about the energizing, high-quality protein that's so important to fuel muscles. And we reap digestive health benefits from yogurt and other fermented dairy foods like kefir. Additionally, there’s growing evidence that dairy foods offer a unique package of nutrients that may support mental health alongside a healthy lifestyle. Most Americans are about 1 serving shy of meeting the daily recommendation for 3 servings of dairy foods. Think about this: 1 serving (1 cup or 8 ounces) of milk – the foundation of all dairy foods – provides 25% of daily calcium to build and maintain strong bones and teeth, 15% of daily vitamin D to support bone and immune health, and 10% of daily potassium to support heart health. That’s a lot to pack into just one serving, and this only scratches the surface of what dairy foods contribute toward better nutrition and health. With 13 essential nutrients in milk and a whole food matrix of benefits, the unique nutrition of dairy foods can be hard to replace. As June and National Dairy Month come to a close, please raise a glass (of milk!) and thank the dedicated dairy farmers who make their livelihoods producing delicious and nutritious dairy foods to nourish us. I hope you’ll join me in continuing the celebration throughout the year by spreading the benefits of adding 1 more serving of dairy each day and encouraging everyone to meet their recommended 3 daily dairy servings. #NationalDairyMonth #EnjoyDairy #UndeniablyDairy

Over 95% of U.S. dairy farms, just like the one I call home, are family owned – it’s just as much a business as it is a way of life. U.S. farmers are committed to producing high-quality dairy products and sharing them with markets around the world, but it’s also critical to highlight the impactful work they’re doing in animal care, their own local communities, and most of all, sustainability. June on most farms across the country includes storing beautiful forages as they reach peak nutritional value for our cattle. I’m privileged to be a third generation farmer that is able to couple decades of agriculture wisdom that my family has passed down with cutting edge technologies, techniques and support to do just that. My neice running a 16’ hay mower and me wrapping the baled hay later in the same day to ziplock in that freshness is a sight I would have loved for my grandfather to see. U.S. farmers are consistently seeking and sharing best practices, and they are really good at improving! These farms are also a driving force of our industry becoming more sustainable, working to increase milk production while reducing carbon footprints at every stage in the dairy value chain. There’s lots to be proud of this #NationalDairyMonth, and I’m honored to be a part of such an important industry, working with the nicest people I’ve ever met. To learn more about U.S. dairy’s farming legacy: https://lnkd.in/gyF5A9BS #USDEC #DairyFarming #Sustainability #SustainableAg