State Agriculture Commissioner Nathan L. Rudgers today announced that June is National Dairy Month in New York State.  With more than 7,000 dairy farms producing over 12.2 billion pounds of milk annually, New York is the nation’s third largest dairy state.

“June Dairy Month is here and there is no better time to celebrate all that our family dairy farms provide,” the Commissioner said.  “From fresh wholesome products that nourish our bodies to the jobs and revenue generated for our communities to the productive landscapes decorating our countryside, dairy farms are essential to maintaining the quality of life here in New York State.  So this month, pour a tall glass of cold milk and honor our hard working dairy farmers for all that they do.”

Throughout the month, Commissioner Rudgers and Department staff will be participating in a number of events focused on the dairy industry and celebrating the advancements made by the industry including the use of fuel cells, anaerobic digesters, and robotic milkers.  The Commissioner’s schedule for June Dairy Month is attached.  

Dairy is the State’s largest agricultural sector, contributing significantly to the State’s economy by generating $1.56 billion, over half of the State’s total agricultural receipts, and providing some of the highest economic multipliers in the State.

According to Cornell University, for every new job created on a dairy farm, an additional 1.24 jobs are created in the community, and for every dollar of output, an additional $.83 is generated.  Dairy processing provides an additional 4.72 jobs for every job created in a plant, the highest multiplier in the State, and generates an additional $1.26 to the community for every dollar of product sold.

New York has 122 dairy processing plants.  Approximately 25 percent of the State’s milk production is used for fluid consumption.  The remainder of the State’s milk is used for processed dairy products.  Last year, New York produced 717 million pounds of cheese, 28 million pounds of butter, 249 million pounds of yogurt and 42 million gallons of ice cream. 

New York ranks third in the nation for cheese production with mozzarella and cheddar being the most popular varieties, and leads the nation in the production of cottage cheese, which accounts for 24 percent of national production. 

The average dairy farm in New York State is family owned and consists of 95 cows, producing an average of 18,019 pounds of milk per year.

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2004 Press Releases