Dairy Farmers of America

Check out these breathtaking photos of the recent northern lights, captured by the Robbins family of North Harbor Dairy, proud DFA farmer-owners who also run Old McDonald's Farm in Sackets Harbor, N.Y. For nearly 100 years, the Robbins family has been dedicated to dairying, but moments like this remind us that the beauty of farm life stretches far beyond the parlor. The recent solar flare brought the northern lights across much of North America’s farmland and dairies. Did you catch the northern lights? Share your photos with us in the comments!

This #NationalFarmersDay, let's celebrate our dairy farmers who devote their lives to nourishing people across the country and around the world, while working hard to build a thriving business for their families.     At DFA, our farmer-owners are more than just dairy farmers –– they are:  🧑🌾 Small business owners   🏠 Multi-generational (often passing down the farm for generations)  🐄 Caretakers of their herd and land  🏫 Community members, serving on local school boards, hosting school kids on their farms, donating to food pantries and more    … the list goes on and on. While milking and caring for their cows is a dairy farmer’s biggest job, they do that and so much more — touching our lives in countless ways.     When we’re grabbing lattes with friends, enjoying ice cream cones with our kids or cooking dinner with family, we get to savor the simple joys of everyday life all thanks to dairy farmers’ hard work and commitment.    Today and every day, thank you dairy farmers! 

It’s no secret that life can get busy. In fact, 75% of us eat meals or snacks on the go, especially during the morning or midday. But grabbing a snack while you’re running out the door doesn’t have to mean sacrificing nutrition. We're taking these insights and turning them into opportunities to increase returns for our farmer-owners — and to bring you exciting new products. Thanks to investments in innovation, DFA farmer-owned brand Dairy Pure is now manufacturing milk in shelf-stable packaging that takes the power of milk to go. Called aseptic packaging, the process works by heating milk to about 295 F and packaging it under sterile conditions, eliminating bacteria that causes milk to spoil. Milk in aseptic packaging can be stored in the pantry for up to 90 days — until you’re ready to open it up and head to your next meeting, appointment or soccer practice. Even better? DairyPure’s aseptic packaging is recyclable, so you don’t have to choose between convenience, sustainability or getting all the benefits of real milk. Packed with essential nutrients and vitamins like high-quality protein, calcium and vitamin D, real milk is an important part of ensuring that your body is in tip-top shape — especially when your schedule is packed. We are #DFAProud to continue innovating ways for everyone to enjoy the delicious benefits of real milk while supporting our family-owned dairy farms. Available nationwide, find DairyPure’s shelf-stable milk at a grocery store near you.

We’re #DFAProud to have taken the stage in Minneapolis at Reuters' Transform Food & Agriculture event with Elanco to highlight how the dairy industry is advancing food sustainability through innovation and partnerships. Jackie Klippenstein, senior vice president and chief government and industry relations officer, joined Katie Cook, Elanco’s vice president of livestock sustainability and U.S. farm animal marketing, to discuss the latest initiatives and products that can help the dairy supply chain reduce, measure and monetize enteric methane emissions, as the dairy industry works toward becoming net neutral by 2050. "Science-based solutions, technologies, and voluntary efforts, like those initiated by several of our farmer-owners in partnership with Elanco, are essential," says Jackie. "By setting proactive sustainability targets, integrating innovative feed enhancements, and helping farmers measure and capture methane reductions, we can make meaningful progress toward reducing our Scope 3 emissions. This is an important story to tell—It's about an industry leaning into its ability to deliver emissions reductions while bringing value to DFA farmer-owners, who have long championed stewardship." Learn more about our farmer-owners' collective efforts >> https://bit.ly/3yX0q4f. #TransformFood

We had a wonderful time at World Dairy Expo, last weekend, continuing its tradition as a key gathering place for the dairy community. More than 60,000 attendees traveled to Madison, Wis., to celebrate the latest innovations and products in the industry and we were #DFAProud to be part of it. Our field representatives and farm services team were at the booth throughout the week, connecting with farmer-owners and answering questions about the Cooperative. "I always look forward to attending the World Dairy Expo. It’s a great opportunity to connect with farmer-owners from my area and across different regions of DFA. Working at the DFA booth with colleagues from various parts of the cooperative allows me to meet many industry professionals throughout the Expo. I also enjoy visiting with farmer-owners who are showcasing their cattle," says Merle Bontrager, manager of member services. As always, it was a great opportunity to catch up with farmer-owners and industry advocates from across the country! Were you at #WDE this year? Let us know!

#DYK: Many kids don’t consume the recommended amount of dairy? This #ChildHealthDay, don’t forget dairy is a powerhouse of nutrients that helps kids grow strong and healthy. From building strong bones with calcium to providing energy with protein, dairy is a nutritious and delicious way to fuel their day — that’s also easily accessible and affordable! Fun ways to get more dairy into your child’s diet: 🥤 Pack in fruits, veggies and dairy with homemade smoothies 🥞 Make high-protein pancakes with cottage cheese 🧀 Throw a cheese stick in their lunch bag for a quick-and-easy snack. Peel or chomp — let them decide! 🫐 Spread yogurt on a sheet pan, top with honey and cut up fruit, and freeze to make yogurt bark As a Cooperative of family dairy farmers (and moms and dads), we are passionate about producing nutritious, wholesome, high-quality dairy to help kids and adults thrive.

This #EnergyEfficiencyDay, we’re celebrating how dairy farmers, with the support of DFA Energy, use energy-saving technology to reduce operational costs and contribute to a healthier environment. They don’t have to navigate it alone! With support from our partners, our DFA Energy team, part of DFA’s Farm Services Division, helps farmer-owners explore renewable energy options, save on energy costs, and secure funding for energy projects. Since many dairy farms are passed down through generations, farmers focus on energy efficiency and sustainability to ensure their farms remain viable for future generations. They use a variety of innovative technologies and techniques, including: 💡 LED lighting: Our farmer-owners replace traditional lighting with energy-saving LED bulbs, reducing electricity consumption and costs. It also keeps the temperature down in the barn and parlor to cut down on cooling costs 🥛 Energy-efficient milking systems: Upgraded equipment like variable-speed vacuum pumps and efficient cooling systems help reduce energy use during milking ♨️ Heat recovery systems: These systems capture heat from milk cooling processes or machinery and reuse it to heat water or buildings, minimizing energy waste 🔋 Manure digesters: Anaerobic digesters convert manure into biogas, which can be used to generate electricity or heat, offsetting energy needs ☀️ Solar power: Many farms install solar panels to generate renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels 🌬️ Automated ventilation: Energy-efficient fans and ventilation systems optimize airflow, reducing the energy needed to maintain barn temperatures 🏠 Insulation upgrades: Improved insulation in buildings minimizes heat loss and reduces the need for excessive heating or cooling Learn more about our farmer-owners' collective efforts at https://bit.ly/4eeNgQq.

Research shows that dairy at all fat levels — nonfat, low-fat, and whole — delivers powerful health benefits, from stronger immunity to reduced risk of heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Dairy, no matter the fat level, is packed with the same essential nutrients that make milk, cheese, and yogurt important for every generation. But right now, the Dietary Guidelines only recognize nonfat and low-fat options, limiting access to nutrient-rich choices in programs like School Lunch and WIC. It’s time for the guidelines to evolve with the science and include all dairy fat levels! Take action today! #JoinDFAInAction and send an email of support to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee before the deadline on Monday, Oct. 7 >> https://bit.ly/3zLSSlW.

From tubs of sour cream to milk powder that goes into your favorite chocolate candy bars, DFA manufactures nearly every form, function and flavor of dairy product you can imagine. This #NationalManufacturingDay, we’re celebrating the thousands of manufacturing workers who make it all possible. Without the forklift drivers, line operators, maintenance technicians and so many others at our manufacturing facilities across the nation, we wouldn’t have any of the delicious dairy products we enjoy every day. So, next time you pour milk on your cereal, enjoy yogurt with your granola or add whey protein to your smoothie, remember the passionate and skilled workers who made it happen. We’re #DFAProud to support manufacturing today and every day!

This #NationalCooperativeMonth, we’re excited to share all the benefits of being a cooperative. Think of an organization that supports local communities, champions sustainability and benefits everyone involved. Does your typical corporation come to mind? (Probably not!) That’s because these exceptional qualities come from a cooperative model, where the member-owners come first, not shareholders.    There are many kinds of cooperatives — from grocery cooperatives to financial cooperatives, and, like DFA, agricultural cooperatives — but all are formed to benefit their member-owners.    💪 At DFA, we’re a leading global dairy cooperative of family dairy farmers across the United States caring for their cows, their land and their communities.     🐄 Our core business is to market our farmer-owners’ milk while also delivering quality products from the family farm to the manufacturing plant, and into the hands of consumers around the world.    🏭 We manufacture nearly every form, function and flavor of nutritional dairy products to bring the joys and nutrition of dairy to consumers everywhere.    As a farmer-owned and farmer-governed cooperative, all our farmer-owners have an opportunity to share their voice and help shape our future — all because of the cooperative model!