The U.S. Senate passed a bill marking June 2021 as National Dairy Month. The bill recognizes dairy’s role in a healthy diet and dairy producers as stewards of the land and livestock.
“Every day, America’s dairy farmers wake up early and go to work supporting an agriculture economy that families rely on in rural communities across the country,” said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison. Baldwin was part of the bipartisan group that introduced the bill. She also chairs the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.
She added: “Our Wisconsin dairy farmers work hard to ensure that their products meet high standards for nutritional value and quality– and that is why Wisconsin cheese, milk and other dairy products are simply the best in the world. As we join together to celebrate June Dairy Month, let us continue working across party lines to support our dairy farmers and the high quality products they make.”
According to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, dairy products have a nutritional composition that maintains good health and reduces the risk of chronic diseases throughout all stages of life.
The bill highlights the economic impact of dairy producers in the U.S., and encourages consumers to visit with dairy producers to gain a better understanding of the production process. According to Baldwin’s release, the U.S. dairy industry supported 3.3 million jobs and $41.6 billion in direct wages.
