Dairy Farmers Lauded for Labor Day

August 29, 2000

As the nation honors its work force on Labor Day, dairy producer organizations are promoting dairy farmers as hard working Americans who bring fresh, wholesome dairy products to consumers daily. Dairy Management Inc. and the National Milk Producers Federation say dairy farming is a labor-intensive occupation, and producing such a wholesome product does not come without manpower.

More than 94,000 families milk and care for 9.2 million dairy cows every day, according to the USDA. Through the efforts of the American dairy farmer, the United States has become the world's leader in cows' milk production, providing nearly 18.3 billion gallons of milk each year, reports USDA.

In a Roper Starch Worldwide consumer survey conducted earlier this year, nearly three-quarters of Americans recognize the value dairy farmers bring to their communities. Seventy-four percent of respondents believe dairy farmers make significant contributions to society; only teachers (89%) and doctors (88%) ranked higher.