06/02/06 June is Dairy Month

The growth of the dairy industry has been phenomenal and is a significant factor in Idaho's economic health. In 1970 the Idaho dairy industry generated 73 million in cash receipts and last year it grew to a health one billion dollar industry. Here are some other facts and figures. Idaho is the second largest milk producing state in the West, fourth largest in the nation. Nearly eight thousand in Southern Idaho are employed by dairies, milk and cheese processing plants. Another 11 thousand-500 jobs are indirectly related to the Idaho dairy industry. As of the first of the year Idaho had 719 dairy farms, all but one are family or individually owned. Dairy farms produced over 10 billion pounds of milk from nearly 471 thousand cows. There are 341 thousand cows in the Magic Valley, nearly 93 thousand in the Treasure Valley. Idaho is fourth in natural cheese manufacturing with 620 million pounds annually. The state is also the fourth largest American cheese maker with 482 million pounds. Idaho manufacturing and distribution plants have estimated sales of 2.5 billion dollars. Dairy, Idaho's number one agricultural commodity. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott