Responsible, sustainable, and ethical dairy farming

Responsible, sustainable, and ethical dairy farming

For DFA farmer-owners, every day begins with a commitment to the animals and land they care for. And a cup of coffee (or three!) For generations, they've practiced sustainable, responsible, and ethical farming, and they're proud of it.

A gold standard for dairy

A first of its kind, our Gold Standard Dairy Program is an on-farm evaluation program that exists to support our farmer-owners. It’s a set of standards, so to speak, that help guide our farmer-owners in key areas. The pride you see on each of their faces? It comes from producing dairy in a responsible way — so you can feel good enjoying the dairy products you love.

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    Animal care and wellbeing

    At the heart of every dairy farm are the cows, and behind every dairy farm are hardworking, committed DFA farmer-owners, farm employees, and other farm partners dedicated to ensuring the highest standards of cow care. Demonstrating their commitment to animal care and wellbeing, DFA adopts the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Animal Care pillar, an industry-wide and led standard of caring for dairy cattle on farms.

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    Land and environmental stewardship

    DFA’s farmer-owners are committed to producing wholesome dairy while protecting our water, soil, and natural habitats. While continuing to perfect traditional farm practices that preserve the environment, they also utilize sustainable innovations and new technology on the farm. Additionally, our farmer-owners can voluntarily participate in the FARM Program’s Environmental Stewardship assessment. This tool calculates a greenhouse gas and energy footprint for the farm, compares it to others in the region and nationally, and also compares the results over time.

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    Milk safety and quality

    When it comes to milk quality, DFA farmer-owners don’t mess around. Our standards ensure that milk coming from DFA’s farmer-owners is safe, nutritious, and of the highest quality. We adhere to strict guidelines, including milking protocols, testing and regulatory standards, employee training on milking procedures, and regular facility maintenance. By upholding these standards, we ensure healthy, safe products for dairy lovers everywhere.

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    Workforce development

    Vital to any farming operation are the people who care every day for the animals and the land. We support our farmer-owners with sharing best hiring and safety practices, worker benefits, and orientation and onboarding of employees on the farm. In addition, the FARM Workforce Development tool outlines best practices, with a focus on developing sustainable management processes and procedures to promote positive human resources and safety outcomes on dairies.

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Achievements in responsible farming

of DFA farms participate in the Gold Standard Dairy Program
100%

of DFA farms participate in the Gold Standard Dairy Program

Evaluations conducted since the Gold Standard Dairy Program began in 2007
45k+

Evaluations conducted since the Gold Standard Dairy Program began in 2007

of DFA farms meet National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program guidelines
100%

of DFA farms meet National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program guidelines

Caring for our herds

Delicious milk is the result of the exceptional handling and care our millions of cows receive across the country. With the guidance of our Gold Standard Dairy Program, our farmer-owners ensure their herds stay healthy — and well-cared for.

Feed and housing quality

Feed and housing quality

Producing milk requires a lot of energy, and cows can eat up to 100 pounds of food each day. The quality of their feed is crucial to maintaining a healthy, nourished herd. And where they live also makes an impact, so we make sure our cows have clean, dry living space on all of our farms.

Calf care practices

Calf care practices

The circle of life is constant on the farm. Starting with pregnant mothers, proper calf care is critical to raising the next generation of dairy cows. Through our Gold Standard Dairy Program, our farmer-owners strictly maintain the health, safety, and viability of the calves they raise every year.

Health care

Health care

Just like you, cows need regular checkups and vaccinations to stay healthy. Through a proactive and regular health care regimen, the cows are well-cared for throughout their lives.

Caring for our land and our planet

Caring for our land and our planet

At DFA, we're serious about sustainability. Because a healthy planet means healthy herds, and we can't produce dairy without either. Across our operations, we're making strides to reduce our overall waste and emissions so you can feel good enjoying the great taste of responsibly produced dairy.

Explore sustainability
Dairy that's delicious and safe to eat

Dairy that's delicious and safe to eat

From our farms to your refrigerator, milk and dairy products go through many stages. At every step, your health and safety are assured with proper storage, regular testing, and necessary processes like pasteurization.

Discover food safety and quality
We're always making improvements that put our planet, our people, and our communities first. Along with the privilege to make such a difference comes the responsibility to do more. Learn more about our efforts and progress in our latest Social Responsibility Report.

Our Social Responsibility Report

We're always making improvements that put our planet, our people, and our communities first. Along with the privilege to make such a difference comes the responsibility to do more. Learn more about our efforts and progress in our latest Social Responsibility Report.

Read more