Industry resources
Below are helpful Web sites you can access to help communicate the story of your dairy business with your neighbors and community.
www.dairyfarmingtoday.org
Information on how modern farm families care for their animals, land and water to produce safe, wholesome milk. The site features many interactive components including a virtual farm tour, a searchable “dairy dictionary” and the ability to submit a question to a real dairy producer.
www.rma.usda.gov/other/stateag.html
Access to your state department of agriculture’s Web site for information on dairy’s ranking, percent of family-owned dairy farms, the money produced by the dairy industry, dairy’s multiplier effect, and other facts about the industry in your state.
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do?documentID=1207
Information on the number of farms, dairy cows and milk production numbers in your state. At the site, click on the “Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry” menu item, then click on the “Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook” link. Then click on the “Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook: Tables” link.
www.das.psu.edu/dairy/planning/community/
Contacts to help you establish good relations with your community as well as an example of a dairy farm community relations Web site.
http://ohioline.osu.edu/as-fact/0010.html
An Ohio State University Web site that covers the impact of large dairy enterprises in Ohio. The site provides a list of strategies for dairy farmers to establish good relations with neighbors.
www.cdtoolbox.net/agriculture_economic_development/000166.html
A Cornell University Web site listing causes of farm/community conflicts, a brief overview of “right-to-farm” laws and ways farmers, neighbors and communities can develop positive relationships with one another.
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/ua309.pdf
“Good Neighbor Relations,” an article from the Penn State University Web site that offers tips and advice on positive farmer-community relations from various Pennsylvania farmers.
www.progressivefarmer.com/tabid/1407/Default.aspx
“Playbook for Dealing with New Neighbors,” an article that offers community relations tips from three New York dairy farmers.
www.extension.umn.edu/dairy/dairyexpo/2005/PublicRelations.pdf
A newsletter on promoting your dairy that offers community relations and leadership advice from a Minnesota dairy farmer.
www.dairyherd.com/news_editorial.asp?pgID=724&ed_id=3664
An article from Dairy Herd Management on six steps to take to improve neighbor relations.
www.dairyresponse.com
Information and resources regarding dairy animal care issues. In the event of an industry-wide crisis, this site is updated with news and information to share with the community.
www.3aday.org
The latest news and information about the 3-A-Day™ of Dairy program, including great-tasting recipes and valuable nutrition education information.
www.nationaldairycouncil.org
Latest nutrition research findings and other important information about dairy’s role in a healthy diet.
www.dairycheckoff.com
Information on how your 15-cent dairy checkoff investment works through generic dairy promotion, marketing and research programs, and contact information for your local dairy promotion organization.