Oregon Dairy Celebrates National Dairy Month

Earlier this week we told you about dairy farmers in Washington. Today we look at Oregon’s billion-dollar dairy business.

Senior Director of Communications for the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council Josh Thomas said the state is home to more than 125,000 cows with 240 dairy farm families, and they cover everything from milk to cheese to ice cream and much more.

“The versatility of milk is really unmatched. The nutritional profile that milk and all those different dairy products provide, with the nine essential nutrients, is really important to a lot of families across our state.”

With June being National Dairy Month, the ODNC is taking the time to recognize the importance of dairy in the economy and in a healthy diet.

Thomas also hopes to correct misconceptions noting that consumers are generally very far removed from the farm and might not understand what happens there.

“The farmers care about their cows. They take good care of their workers. They’re involved and care about their respective communities and the environment. They’re good stewards of the air, the land and the water that surrounds their farms because they live there too.”

The Council is offering tours of dairy farms this month, a milk carton race and is working to get food into the hands of kids who don’t have a school lunch program during the summer.

If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (590) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.