June 2, 2009
June is Dairy Month in Virginia, and Todd Haymore, Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), urges consumers to Fuel Up with Milk. “That’s the theme for June Dairy Month this year, and speaking from personal experience, I think it’s right on target. I have three young daughters, and milk certainly fuels their days. It helps keep me and my wife going, too, as we manage the schedules for a household that includes twin five year olds and a three year old.”
Haymore added that milk consistently ranks as one of the top commodities in Virginia. In 2007 it was number three. (Rankings for 2008 are not in yet.) “The state’s largest industry is agriculture,” Haymore said, “and last year, fluid milk yielded $374 million in cash receipts. That’s a lot of milk, and that figure doesn’t include cheese, ice cream, milk powder, butter or other dairy products.”
The Southeast Dairy Association provided these additional 2008 facts on the dairy industry in Virginia:
· Virginia had 98,000 dairy cows on 725 licensed commercial dairy farms.
· The state has five milk processing plants - in Lynchburg. Mt. Crawford, Richmond, Winchester and Wirtz.
· The total amount of milk produced in the state during 2008 amounted to 205,600,000 gallons.
· In 2008, a Virginia dairy cow produced an average of 5.74 gallons of milk per day, or enough to make 4.87 pounds of cheese or 2.30 pounds of butter.
· To produce this much milk, a cow consumes 35 gallons of water, 20 pounds of grain and feed concentrates and 55 pounds of corn silage a day.
· The average value of a day’s milk was about $10.45 per cow during 2008. Sales of other products associated with the dairy may add another $2.30 per cow per day.
· In 2008, a dairy cow in Virginia cost about $1,975.
· A typical Virginia dairy farm has a herd of 135 milking cows.
· The top ranking counties for milk production during 2008 were:
o Rockingham County, 360 million pounds
o Franklin County, 142 million pounds
o Pittsylvania County, 111 million pounds
o Augusta County, 107 million pounds.
Dairy products are known for their delicious taste, but the bonus is that they are good for you, too. They are nutrient dense, supplying 72 percent of the calcium available in the American diet, along with nine essential vitamins and minerals, including potassium, riboflavin, phosphorus, vitamins A, D and B-12 as well as protein. Studies indicate that eating three to four servings of dairy per day could help lower the risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis and some forms of cancer as well as assist with weight management.
Fuel Up with Milk during June Dairy Month, but don’t stop there. Continue to find ways to get at least three servings per person per day. Milk, cheese and yogurt are the delicious way to ensure good nutrition. Give family members plenty of fun options, and they’ll be eating healthy without thinking twice. Top cottage cheese or low fat yogurt with some fresh berries and low fat granola. Mix fat free yogurt with a dollop of honey and use it as a tasty dip for sliced apples and other bite size pieces of fresh fruit. Let the kids make their own smoothies at a “creation station” in the kitchen where they can mix low fat milk or yogurt with fruit and other favorite items. Or go traditional with scrambled eggs topped with low fat cheese and whole wheat toast or milk and whole grain cereal topped with fresh berries or banana slices. Find more information at www.southeastdairy.org.
