June is National Dairy Month!

Warm weather is finally here and so is Dairy Month! “June Dairy Month is the perfect time to enjoy lots of cool refreshing dairy treats and also to reflect all the hard work that goes into making those delicious dairy products,” says Wayne Dykshorn, President of the Iowa State Dairy Association (ISDA).

“Being a dairy farmer is demanding work,” continues Dykshorn. “Cows must be milked every day at least twice a day, and many farms milk three times daily. Dairy farmers are dedicated to producing high-quality milk which means that they are committed to having healthy cows and clean facilities, which also takes time and dedication. This is not a career you pursue for any reason except that you love it.”

Dairy farming is an important industry in Iowa. “Iowa is home to 1,802 dairy farms and about 215,000 dairy cows,” says Jessica Bloomberg, Industry Relations Manager for the ISDA. “Those cows produced 4.38 billion pounds of milk in 2009 making Iowa the 12th largest milk producing state.” Iowa also has 211 dairy goat farms and even a dairy sheep farm. It is estimated that more than 26,000 jobs are provided by dairy industry – including jobs on dairy farms, by dairy processors and other services that benefit and aid the dairy industry—resulting in more than $1.5 billion contributed annually to Iowa’s economy.

Not only is the dairy industry important to the State of Iowa but it’s also a necessary part of a healthy diet. Milk naturally has nine essential nutrients making dairy products not only delicious but also good for you. Recent studies have shown that consuming dairy products as part of a balanced diet has many health benefits including helping maintain a healthy body weight, assisting in controlling high blood pressure and limiting risk of osteoporosis. Studies also show that drinking low-fat or fat-free milk or chocolate milk after an endurance or resistance workout is a great alternative to sports drinks because the protein in milk helps build and refuel muscles, the carbohydrates replenish energy, and fluid and electrolytes replace what is lost in sweat to rehydrate the body.

So while you are enjoying a glass of cold chocolate milk after a tough workout or having ice cream on a warm summer night, remember all the hard work that went into making those treats, and maybe thank a dairy farmer for his or her dedication.