National Dairy Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, June 2022 marks the 85th annual Dairy Month, and today I wish to recognize the hard work of South Dakota's dairy industry.

Our dairy producers and processors work tirelessly to provide high- quality, safe, and nutritious products for people around the world. The 2020-2025 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans highlights that dairy consumption is a critical part of a healthy, balanced diet and is the leading source of calcium and vitamin D, critical components of bone strength and heart health.

In 2021, the U.S. dairy industry contributed approximately $753 billion to the U.S. economy, and it supports 3.3 million jobs. South Dakota's dairy industry is experiencing exciting growth, as seen by the doubling of milk production between 2000 and 2020. In 2019, South Dakota produced more than $563 million in milk and dairy products. South Dakota is home to more than 170 dairy farms and nearly a dozen processing facilities that support more than 6,000 jobs in our State. Each dairy cow brings an estimated $26,000 of economic impact to communities every year.

Our Nation's producers are also leading the way in sustainability and efficiency. Between 2007 and 2017, they decreased their carbon footprint by 19 percent. The industry has also successfully lowered the water input in a gallon of milk by 30 percent. These increased efficiencies are a window into the incredible innovation of the agriculture industry as producers continue working to feed to the world.

I commend the hard work and dedication of our State's dairy farmers and processors and all that they do to continue to supply the world with nutritious dairy products. I wish the dairy industry continued prosperity in the years to come.

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