Dairyland News is distributed to business leaders, government staff, elected officials, media and dairy farm families to show how dairy farmers contribute to the community, with safe operations, best farm management practices and effective stewardship of land and animals.   

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Volume 1, July 2014
Yakima Valley Dairies Contribute $500 Million to Economy

According to a WSU economic study, Yakima County's 69 dairy farms likely average $10 million per farm, employ 20-30 people and generate approximately $500 million to the Valley's local economy.  Although the economic study estimates impact at a point in time, based on milk prices among other measures, Washington's temperate climate, advanced animal genetics and astute farm management makes our state one of the nation's biggest producers of cow's milk.  The dairy industry in here fuels direct and indirect economic impacts of $5.2 billion and employs more than 18,000 people statewide. Washington ranks 10th in total milk production among the 50 states and is home to approximately 480 dairy farms.  Read more...     

Yakima Dairy Farm Families Volunteer for 2nd Harvest

Volunteers from Yakima dairy farms and Fred Meyer helped distribute milk and other nutritious food at a recent Second Harvest Mobile Food Bank distribution in Yakima. 

 

Second Harvest and Yakima Valley dairy farmers launched an innovative program called 'Dairy for Life' that gets milk to low income children and adults.   "Dairy farmers contribute 400 gallons of Darigold milk every week," said Rod Wieber, chief resource officer at Second Harvest. ""Milk is a nutritious and perishable product that is in high-demand for low-income families who are stretched financially." Second Harvest produced a short video about the program and its value. 

Composted Livestock Manure Produces Nutrient-Rich Fertilizer

As the population grows, fertilizers for crops and pasture grass are increasingly in demand including the potential of packaged cow manure as compost fertilizer for retail and commercial applications. 

 

Organic cow manure is a nutrient that helps crops and pasture grass production over longer durations before the need for reapplication because of its slow release of nutrients.  

Ground Water Committee Implements Deep Soil Sampling Process

The June 14, 2014 meeting of the Lower Yakima Valley Ground Water Management Committee marked its second anniversary of  the committee's formation at the request of Yakima County and in support of the Department of Ecology's efforts to reduce nitrate level in lower Yakima Valley groundwater below state drinking water standards.   Kirk Cook, WSDA, and a member of the committee provided an overview of the committee's work and scope.   "The focus of the committee is on land use and not treating the aquifer," he said.  "The GWMC is asked to assess current water quality and links with activities on the land  surface  Read more...