[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S3066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH

  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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