Dairy Farming in Florida
Agriculture is all around us here in Florida. In fact, it is our state’s second biggest industry with dairy farming playing a key role. Florida is home to about 140 dairy farms that comprise wide open green pastures. We have 123,000 dairy cows in Florida that produce 253 million gallons of fresh milk each year.
Dairy Farming
Being a dairy farmer takes a 24-7 commitment every day of the year. Even on holidays, the cows must be milked and cared for. Because of these daily efforts at the farm, Floridians are able to enjoy a steady supply of fresh, nutritious milk, a product that’s commonly called “nature’s most perfect food.” Indeed, few foods can match milk’s overall nutritional benefits and doctors and health professionals endorse it to people of all ages. This is why Florida’s dairy farmers are eager to rise with the sun each morning to keep the milk supply flowing.
Caring for the Environment
There’s an old saying about farmers being the first environmentalists. Caring for the land, water and air remains a daily commitment by dairy farmers. Most dairy farmers make their home at the farm, giving them even more incentive to be a good neighbor and protect natural resources. 
Before farmers milk their first cow, they must follow strict government regulations to show their facilities meet environmental standards. Dairy farmers strive to exceed these rules and utilize methods to reuse resources. For example, many farmers collect rain water that is used on crops, while animal waste is converted into commercial soil products and used by Florida nurseries. There is even emerging technology on how dairies can produce electricity. And the food farmers feed their cows has its own “green” story behind it. Much of the feed is a byproduct of another industry. For example, Florida leads the nation in orange juice production and all of that citrus pulp makes for tasty and nutritious feed for the cows, instead of ending up in a landfill.
Healthy Cows
No dairy farmer can succeed without healthy and content cows. Dairy cows are indeed the stars of the farm and they are treated as such. Maintaining a healthy and comfortable herd of cows is job number one.
Dairy cows receive regular visits from veterinarians, and farmers work to assure their cows’ comfort. Many dairy farms feature bedding made of pure white sand that makes for a clean and cool area where the cows can rest. Large barns provide shade from the Florida sunshine and these facilities are equipped with sprinkler systems that produce a cool mist of water. Farmers also make sure cows have their hooves trimmed, something they call a “cow pedicure.” Cows have all-day access to fresh water, and an animal dietitian creates diets to assure a cow gets exactly what it needs to function at its best and produce wholesome milk.
A Family Affair
Dairy farming is a family affair. Generations of farmers have milked cows all across Florida and there is a younger generation ready to one day take its place to keep the industry moving forward. Family dairy farms in communities such as Okeechobee, Mayo and Live Oak provide grocery stores with a steady supply of fresh milk. At some dairies, it’s not uncommon to see husbands and wives working alongside their children or grandchildren. Everyone at the farm has a job to do, whether it’s pitching in to milk the cows, caring for the calves or tending to the crops. It truly takes a family effort to keep running the farm a family affair.
Freshness and Quality
Maintaining milk’s freshness and quality is a job that starts at the farm and continues through processing. From the time the milk leaves the cow’s udder, it is chilled to about 38 degrees and remains cold in a stainless steel tank. Milk is picked up at dairy farms every day of the year and is shipped immediately to a processing plant where it is tested, pasteurized and bottled. Milk is among the most highly regulated foods in the country and that assures a safe, wholesome and delicious beverage.
