Caring for animals and the Earth!
Dairy farmers help protect the environment while keeping their farm productive by making energy efficiency a priority, recycling and producing renewable energy, whenever possible. Here are some of the ways dairy farmers stay green and protect the environment:
• Recycling comes naturally to dairy farmers. Cow manure is used responsibly as an organic fertilizer for cropland and for compost, which is used by local nurseries and by neighbors for their gardens. This greatly reduces the need for commercial fertilizers on the farm,
• The water used on farms is recycled several times a day to wash barn alleys and irrigate the fields. And, applying recycled manure to the crops helps increase the water-holding capacity of the soil.
• Some farmers are even able to convert manure from cows into electricity, which can be used to power the farm, homes or businesses.
These are only a few (of many ways) dairy farmers help protect their environment. For more information on the steps dairy farmers take to be green visit the “Sustainability” section of Keeplocalfarms.org.
