A non-profit supported by dairy farm families in the Southeast continues to lead in sustainability efforts. Recently, the organization secured funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Technical Assistance program to enhance sustainability initiatives on dairy farms in Georgia. This grant from The Dairy Alliance aims to accelerate progress towards the Georgia Dairy Smart Roadmap by 2025, which outlines advanced technologies and best practices for all dairy producers in Georgia, setting a precedent for the Southeast region.
In collaboration with the Georgia Milk Producers and Newtrient, an organization dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of U.S. dairy farming while ensuring economic viability, the grant will provide conservation planning and technical support to 10 diverse dairy operations. It aims to propel the U.S. dairy industry towards its 2050 environmental objectives, including achieving greenhouse gas neutrality, optimizing water use through enhanced recycling, and enhancing water quality.
“The challenges faced by Georgia farmers, from increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events to heightened scrutiny of their environmental impact, underscore the critical need for initiatives like this,” stated Geri Berdak, CEO of The Dairy Alliance. “This funding arrives at a crucial moment, enabling us to further our mission and support Georgia’s dairy farmers.”
Over the past five years, the Southeast region has witnessed an average of 8.6 extreme weather events annually, doubling the previous 40-year average of 4.3 events per year. This reality places dairy farms under significant financial strain, limiting their ability to invest in conservation projects and planning.
“We are grateful to NRCS Georgia for funding this vital work, assisting dairy farmers in reducing their environmental footprint and enhancing the resilience of their operations amidst today’s dairy production challenges,” Berdak added.
The Dairy Alliance is a nonprofit funded by dairy farm families of the Southeast. We work diligently with dairy farmers, schools, sports teams, health professionals, local organizations, state leaders, the media, and the public to promote dairy foods and knowledge about the dairy industry. Our efforts center in eight states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
