California dairymen have a history of sharing the latest in sustainable management practices from feeding, cow care, to waste management, with not just their neighbors, but the world. These practices have been proven to efficient, good for the environment, and necessary in preparing the farm for the next generation. This conference will highlight our progress, examine the latest ideas being tested, and identify the next challenges we face as we strive to continued improvement in dairy sustainability.

Through continual improvement, we not only keep our farms productive, we make our communities better. The California Dairy Sustainability Summit is about celebrating the progress we’ve made, while taking a hard look at where we’re going next and making sure our efforts will remain economically and environmentally sustainable.

Dairy farmers continually demonstrate their lifelong commitment to sustainability, always finding new ways to improve as they move forward.

Today, we in agriculture feed more people on this planet than ever before. The population continues to increase, while our raw resources do not. The key to our success and being able to continue this amazing task is ‘sustainability.’ With best management practices and innovative technologies, we can continue to do more with less. It’s our job to keep the planet environmental safe, our growing population fed, and our farms economically sound. This will assure a ‘sustainable future’ for all.

California dairy producers are long-time innovators and are truly committed to sustainability in all areas of their business. I see it every day through their development and adoption of improved practices and voluntary participation in the California Dairy Quality Assurance Program. We are proud to be a part of the California Dairy Sustainability Summit, sharing the industry’s successes and providing a fun, new way for dairy producers to get and share information – all in a one-stop-shopping style venue.

The California Dairy Research Foundation has a long history of investing in the sustainability advancements of our dairy producers, and we are excited to support the upcoming California Dairy Sustainability Summit. We expect an exciting new venue that will showcase the industry’s long-held commitment to continuous improvement in sustainability measures and one that will introduce new opportunities as we look to the future. Through our support of the Summit, CDRF has renewed our pledge to utilize our California dairymen’s dollars to their greatest benefit.

Consumer trust is valuable currency. Showcasing generations of leadership in sustainable farming connects California dairy to the values we all share and helps maintain that trust. This first California Dairy Sustainability Summit creates a platform for sharing and creating future partnerships to ensure we continue to lead the way.

As farmers, our leadership in sustainability is a legacy we leave to future generations. The California Dairy Sustainability Summit allows us to recognize farmers for leading the way with sustainability while investigating further opportunities to advance and improve.

California dairy farm families and processors are leading the way in sustainability, including environmental stewardship and the role of dairy in a healthy diet. The sustainable future of California starts with nourishing children and families and this is made possible by our dairy industry. Dairy Council of California works on behalf of the dairy industry to elevate the health of children and families through the pursuit of lifelong healthy eating habits. We encourage you to attend the California Dairy Sustainability Summit to learn more.

California dairy farmers are raising the bar for environmentally-friendly farming practices. The California Dairy Sustainability Summit will recognize their achievements to date and help build strong partnerships as California dairy families serve as world leaders in sustainable farming.

California dairy farms adhere to the strictest environmental regulations in the nation. It’s a tough place to dairy farm, but California is our home. We’re committed to working with our state’s leaders to find economically and environmentally sustainable solutions.

The California Dairy Sustainability Summit is about recognizing how far we as dairy farmers have come and helping us continue to improve. Dairy farmers are open to finding new ways to protect our shared planet and our vital resources. We’re exploring economically sustainable solutions that will sustain our family farms for generations to come.

It’s important for us as farmers to demonstrate our commitment to the environment and to the animals. We want to continue working collaboratively with policymakers to ensure the long-term sustainability of California’s dairy industry.