Cooperative Living June 2023 - 22

DELIGHTFUL DIVERSIONS
Going Green for Dairy Month
Story courtesy of Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association
Sustainability practices implemented on dairy farms
T
he dairy farmers of Maryland
& Virginia Milk Producers
Cooperative Association (MDVA)
have formed an unlikely friendship.
Since 2018, MDVA has joined hands
with the Alliance for the Chesapeake
Bay to develop clean water partnerships
with dairy supply chain partners. These
partnerships have raised more than $46
million for dairy farm sustainability.
The duo recently hosted three
volunteer-led tree plantings on familyowned
dairy farms. J-Team Dairy in
Orange County, Va., Cool Lawn Farms
in Remington, Va., and Tulip Pond Farm
in Union Bridge, Md., are now home to
more than 1,200 trees. The trees will help
improve local water quality by reducing
the amount of nutrients (manure) and
sediments entering their respective
watersheds. These tree plantings are just
a few of dozens of sustainability practices
that have been installed on MDVA
member farms since the relationship
with the Alliance began.
" We need to hold onto our
natural resources. It's our job. "
- Molly McWilliams, J-Team Dairy
" Our dairy farmers want to have a
seat at the table and be considered an
environmental solution, " says Lindsay
Reames, executive vice president of
sustainability and external relations at
MDVA. " As proud owners of Maola
Milk, we're pioneering unique sustainability
partnerships that ensure we're
the sustainable choice for dairy for
consumers up and down the East Coast. "
Jim and Terri Elgin of J-Team Dairy
approach dairy farming with a focus on
animal care and sustainability. In addition
to the upcoming tree planting, the farm
20 ● Cooperative Living ●
June 2023
is working closely with MDVA, the
Alliance and other environmental
organizations to construct a new barn
and a manure storage facility to reduce
runoff to local streams and keep cows cool,
clean and dry. The farm also utilizes crop
cover practices to keep soil and nutrients
on the farm and out of local streams.
" I think farmers have a responsibility
to protect the environment and be
sustainable, " says Molly McWilliams
with J-Team Dairy. " We need to hold
onto our natural resources. It's our job.
It starts with us. "
Collaboration is at the forefront of
this work. Many dairy farmers are leaving
the industry due to low milk prices.
Those who stay realize there's a huge
need to increase their operations'
sustainability. However, many cannot
prioritize sustainability without supply
chain support that brings significant
funding, technical support, and incentives
to manage their farms for the future.
The Alliance assists with procuring
dairy farm funding from partners like
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,
the Piedmont Environmental Council,
Giant Food, Turkey Hill Dairy, and
state-level government agencies like the
Virginia Department of Conservation
and Recreation. MDVA is leveraging
their partnership with the Alliance
to achieve their environmental goals,
which include achieving greenhouse
gas neutrality, maximizing water
recycling, and improving water quality
by optimizing utilization of manure
and its nutrients. As they work to achieve
these goals, they're adding a 14th essential
nutrient - sustainability - to the milk
they process. 
For more, visit mdvamilk.com.
co-opliving.com
Fun Facts About Dairy
* The environmental impact of producing
a gallon of milk in 2017 shrunk
significantly from 2007, requiring:
* 30% less water
* 21% less land
* 19% smaller carbon footprint
* Real milk has 13 essential nutrients
and minerals in every glass
* On average, milk is $0.26 per 8-oz. glass
* Milk has eight times more protein
than almond and rice milk
* Milk has three ingredients: milk,
vitamin A and vitamin D
* Milk is an excellent choice for
hydration due to natural electrolytes,
carbohydrates and protein
PHOTOS COURTESY COOL LAWN FARMS
http://www.mdvamilk.com http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living June 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living June 2023
