WHEREAS, North Carolina dairy farmers and processors play an important role in feeding the residents of our great state and people across the Southeast; and
WHEREAS, according to the 2022 North Carolina Agricultural Statistics Book published by the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, there are around 40,000 dairy cows on 140 dairy farms in North Carolina; in 2021, dairy cows in North Carolina produced 917 million pounds of milk; and
WHEREAS, the top four milk-producing counties are Randolph, Chatham, Wilkes, and Iredell; and
WHEREAS, dairy products, including milk, cheese, butter, sour cream, ice cream, yogurt, and more, can provide health benefits and valuable nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, and protein; and
WHEREAS, because of cooperation between dairy producers and the North Carolina Dairy Producers Association, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and allied industry, the dairy industry continues to thrive and innovate; and
WHEREAS, according to the International Dairy Foods Association, the North Carolina dairy industry provides 29,350 direct jobs and 50,603 indirect jobs and generates $3.5 billion in wages each year; and
WHEREAS, according to the International Dairy Foods Association, North Carolina’s dairy industry has a total economic impact of $12.25 billion, making the dairy industry an important part of the total diversification of agriculture in this state;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim June, 2023, as “DAIRY MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.