Did you know that there are nearly 140 dairy farms in Massachusetts? Massachusetts dairies maintain 113,600 acres of open space and land preservation, circulate about $40 million to our local economy and 97 percent of dairy farms in the U.S. are family owned.
Regardless of size, all dairies have one major goal; to provide their communities with healthy, safe and wholesome milk, while caring for their animals and land as best as possible. A huge priority on dairy farms is animal care. Farmers use science and research to continue to care for their animals. Happy, comfortable cows produce the best quality milk. In addition, food safety is a top concern. Regardless of labeling, all milk bought in the grocery store is free from antibiotics.
Lastly, dairy farmers are pioneers in the “sustainable” farming initiative. Today, producing a gallon of milk uses 90 percent less land and 65 percent less water, with a 63 percent smaller carbon footprint than in 1944.
Milk is a truly local food. Most of the milk found in grocery stores throughout the Northeast is produced on farms in the Northeast. Over 99 percent of the milk produced on New England dairy farms is bottled or processed into cheese, butter, ice cream and yogurt in New England or New York. Dairy is an excellent source of essential vitamins and minerals including calcium, phosphorus, vitamins D, B and A, potassium and niacin. Just one cup of milk has 8 grams of protein.
In fact, the USDA recommends that we enjoy three servings of dairy per day. If you ever have questions or concerns about dairy farming in Franklin County, or even the world, feel free to ask your local farmer. We truly love our cows and farms. To us, it’s not just a job, it’s a way of life.
Regina Grover
4th generation dairy farmer, Bernardston