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Dairies produce milk and jobs
Community Voices
| Thursday, Nov 1 2007 8:55 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Nov 1 2007 8:58 PM
How many Kern County residents does it take to pour a glass of fresh milk?
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The clever answer is none. It tastes better straight from the carton.
But this question warrants more than that.
This question highlights the far-reaching economic impacts of creating something simple: a fresh glass of milk. While most people never think about it, dairies and agriculture longtime foundations of Kern County's economy create thousands of jobs, from the fields to the dinner table.
If you've been to a dairy, you've seen the work that goes into feeding and milking cows everyday. Their diet consists of alfalfa, corn silage and other locally grown feeds, all of which require extensive manpower to plant and harvest. Dairies also need a wide array of service-oriented businesses: welders, mechanics, nutritionists, engineers, agronomists, accountants and bankers.
Milk is picked up by trucking companies that support their own army of truckers and personnel. Workers transport milk to a plant where hundreds of employees are needed to process the milk into whole milk, skim milk, cheese, butter, ice cream and other delicious dairy foods.
Next, products must be sold and distributed, all of which means more jobs. I could go on about all the jobs created, salaries earned, houses and cars purchased, and taxes paid all ultimately made possible by dairy farms here in Kern County.
So it begs the question: Why does there seem to be so much controversy when it comes to the issue of dairy farms and Kern County? I've heard the arguments and read the objections. The reality is that a small minority of the population (anti-dairy activists) yell the loudest. They use words like "polluters" and blame cows for all the health problems in the world. The reality is much different.
Dairies have been at the forefront of efforts to improve agriculture's stewardship of our air and water resources. As evidence, look no further than the strict air and water quality regulations facing Central Valley dairy families today. Dairies have invested millions of dollars to ensure that air and water quality impacts are minimized, and as more research and technology is developed, dairies will continue to be active in implementing those improvements.
The key is balance. Dairy families want the same as everyone else. They drink the same water, breath the same air and send their kids to the same schools. They also pay substantial taxes. Have you ever thought about the property tax bill for the average new Kern County dairy? It costs about $5,000 per milking cow to build a modern dairy, in addition to the value of the raw land. A 4,000-cow dairy will have an annual property tax bill in excess of $200,000 per year!
Who needs dairies? I get my milk at the store.
It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? The reality is that we rarely consider the massive economic activity that is poured into every gallon of milk on the store shelves. Kern County is fortunate to have a vibrant dairy industry. It is the dairies' hope that with responsible planning and cooperation, Kern County can continue to be a welcoming community for dairy families to live.
Rob VandenHeuvel has spent a majority of his life on dairies, growing up and working on a family dairy farm in Chino. He currently manages the Milk Producers Council, a trade association representing a number of Kern County dairy families. Community Voices is an expanded commentary that may contain up to 500 words. The Californian reserves the right to reprint commentaries in all formats, including on its Web page.