When you say the state name “California” and ask others what their first thoughts are, I could guarantee that the first hundreds of comments would not be anything near agriculture.
If you’re not from the state or familiar with it, it’s a common thought that the majority of the state is centered around the entertainment and celebrity industries. With largely known cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, it’s obvious that those areas are the more popularized regions of the state.
Behind the big cities, name brands, and iconic landmarks in California, there sits a vibrant and diverse agricultural industry. With several regions of the state producing niche products like strawberries or rice, California is also a hub of innovation for agriculture and, more specifically, the dairy industry.
Dairy farms across the nation are in a constant progression toward the future, making consistent updates that work to improve the ease of farming. California, despite being known for every other industry besides agriculture, is no exception. As California grows to the future in agriculture, there is a large focus on the sustainability aspect of the industry.
Many farms throughout the state have worked to receive grants and install methane
digesters in an attempt to generate renewable energy and raise levels of sustainability. This energy can be repurposed, helping alleviate energy allocation issues and positively contributing negative effects to the environment. In addition to methane digesters, manure separators have grown in popularity. By providing a reusable resource for farmers while capitalizing on a product they already have, California dairy farmers have reached elevated levels of sustainability in short periods of time with this new bedding option.
Like tens of other states in the nation, California has followed suit in adopting the key agricultural practices that are working to improve sustainability across the nation. Working progressively and consistently toward success, dairy farmers are always striving to produce more with less.
Though California may not be widely recognized for its agricultural production, the state’s efforts are an active piece of the puzzle that is the greater sustainability picture of the nation. The future of the dairy industry is bright, but if anything, we can assure that it’s also green.
Morgan Oliveira was the 2024 Hoard’s Dairyman editorial intern. She grew up working on her family’s dairy farm near Hilmar, Calif. As a student at Cal Poly University, Oliveira is majoring in agriculture communications.
