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Dairy industry generates $620 billion in impact

The International Dairy Foods Association says the dairy industry contributes $620 billion in economic activity and supports more than three million jobs in the U.S.

CEO Michael Dykes tells Brownfield their 2019 Dairy Delivers economic impact tool has been updated from two years ago and calculates the contributions the dairy product industry makes.

“Probably one of the biggest changes that we saw was an increase in the ingredients sector part of the dairy.  Cheese has been up a little bit in terms of economic impact, a little bit of decline in fluid milk.”  

Cheese and fluid milk continue have the largest economic impact, both contributing more than $50 billion annually.

Dykes says it has been a tough time for the dairy industry and all of agriculture, and market access needs to be maintained.

“China was a growing market for us until the 301 tariffs came into place.  We need trade, we need access to consumers outside of the U.S.”  

California leads the nation as the largest employer and economic contributor.