Letter to the Editor: June is Dairy Month

To the Editor:
It has been more than 75 years since the annual celebration began - June Dairy Month recognizes dairy foods and the farmers that produce them. As June winds down, I would like to extend a thank you to all of our producers in Allamakee County and the surrounding areas.
Dairy farming supports rural communities in every single state. There are more than 47,000 dairy farms in the United States and 97% of them are family owned and operated. With an average herd size of 196 head, that puts more than 9.2 million dairy cows in the United States. Iowa alone is the 12th largest milk producing state in the U.S. with approximately 1,370 dairy herds. We have 14 plants that process one or more dairy products throughout the state of Iowa. Last year, Iowa produced 540 million gallons of milk with approximately $944 million in milk sales annually.
There have been many campaigns that the Midwest Dairy Association has come up with in the past: “3-A-Day” and “Fuel Up to Play 60” are just a couple.
“3-A-Day” refers to getting three servings of dairy products daily, weather that be milk, yogurt, cheese or any other delicious dairy product out there. It is recommended that those nine and older get three servings of dairy a day, those children 4-8 get 2.5 servings a day and two servings for those 2-3 years of age.
“Fuel Up to Play 60” is a school wellness program that is brought to us by the National Dairy Council, Midwest Dairy Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture, which encourages our youth to choose nutrient-rich foods and get out and play at least 60 minutes a day.
Please get out there, thank a dairy farmer, support our products and buy locally to support our local farmers.

Melissa Wedo,
Allamakee County Farm Bureau Board Member