Dairy Industry Tackling Water Issues at a National Level
From water shortages in the West to a chemical train derailment in the East, water quantity and quality issues are making news headlines. Water issues such as these are often the result of years of use and abuse of our local waterways. However, many industries are rethinking the ways they use water, including the U.S. dairy industry. In the United States, milk production has nearly doubled in the last 60 years despite fewer cows, thanks to improvements in dairy cow health. Additionally, the water management practices of today allow dairy farmers to use 65% less water than they needed 60 years ago. This change in water usage can be attributed to improvements in technology and, most importantly, the recycling of water on dairy farms.
Dairy farmers can reuse water up to four times on the farm. Water makes up about 90% of milk, making it a crucial resource on a dairy farm. After milk leaves a cow, it is sent to a cooling system in the farm’s milking parlor, where water quickly chills the milk from 101°F to 38°F. Following its use in cooling milk in the milking parlor, some farmers choose to use this same water as a safe drinking option for their cows. Other farmers use the water to rinse cow manure from their barns, enriching it with a natural fertilizer that can be recycled and used on crops grown for feed. About 26% of a dairy’s environmental footprint comes from feed production. By recycling water, dairy farmers can cut down on water usage, saving themselves money and reducing their environmental impact.
The majority of dairies, including those in South Dakota, are family owned and operated. Lynn Boadwine, a farmer from Baltic, SD lives and farms around the Big Sioux River and understands how important the farmer’s role is in protecting the watershed. “We are committed to using more cover crops and implementing no-till farming practices, both of which are beneficial to the Big Sioux River and farmers because those practices reduce runoff and increase the water holding capacity of the soil. Water is a renewable resource, but we need to be smart about our use.”
In addition to individual dairy farms taking action to reduce their environmental footprint, the dairy industry as a whole has created the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative, which aims to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality, optimize water usage while maximizing recycling, and improve water quality by 2050. To achieve these goals, dairy farmers will implement a variety of practices, including no-till farming, cover crops, water use efficiency, precision agriculture, and renewable energy from wind and solar sources. These changes will have both on-farm and off-farm benefits, including healthier cows, increased milk production, healthier soils, and improved water quality. It’s a win for everyone involved!