The agriculture industry and farm organizations around the country give special recognition to dairy farmers through the month of June. Some celebrate by hosting dairy farm tours, others with ice cream socials. In joining in on that effort we are dedicating our June Issue to National Dairy Month.
In this issue we featured three local dairies that all take a different approach to their operation. The Stuber Family Dairy has been in operation for four generations and is teaching the newest generation the ropes of their 100-year-old farm. David and Andrea Hirschler’s story has an unusual twist – they completely relocated their herd from Nebraska to the Ozarks and are switching from a confinement operation to a grazing operation. Spring Hill Farms milks and manufactures cheese and yogurt on their farm while running a beef cattle herd. Be sure to check out these great stories throughout the paper.
This issue also includes tips for marketing your dairy and the industry, the role dairy plays in a healthy diet, correctly calculating paddock size and tips for successful lactation.
National Dairy Month was established in 1937 as National Milk Month in efforts to promote drinking milk when production was at a surplus, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. National Dairy Month has since continued as an annual tradition.
Earlier this spring the Commercial Agriculture Program at the University of Missouri completed a report based on the Economic Contribution of the Missouri Dairy Product Manufacturing Industry. According to the report, In 2011 Missouri’s dairy product manufacturing and production industry revenues translated into annual statewide economic output worth $7.7 billion. A total of 23,297 jobs were directly and indirectly supported by the industry, generating $1.2 billion in labor income.
The University of Missouri also reported an increase in smaller scale processing that tap in on a niche market. As of December 2012, 16 dairy processing ventures were in operation in Missouri.
I encourage everyone to celebrate the dairymen in the Ozarks and enjoy the delicious and nutritious products they produce. Summer is a great time to eat more ice cream, go ahead I give you permission.
Best wishes,
