Michigan’s dairy farmers lead the nation in milk production per cow, and Isabella County’s 36 licensed dairy farms rank 15th in the state.
Such an accomplishment isn’t possible without quality veterinary care and management, according to the Michigan State University Extension.
Cora Okkema, a dairy educator based in Mecosta County who covers Isabella County for the Extension, said milk is the highest selling animal product in the county with $37 million in sales in the 2017 Census report, the latest available.
Despite being smaller in area than larger western states, Michigan topped other states in per-cow milk production, and ranks sixth in the United States in total milk production that added $15.7 billion to the state’s economy, Okkema said.
“These are incredibly amazing numbers,” Okkema told Isabella County commissioners during a recent work session. “We can only achieve these numbers with top quality care and management.”
Okkema, a dairy farmer herself, said her focus is on taking dairy farms to the next level and said milk production in Michigan is a testament to the dedication of dairy farmers to keep their herds healthy, with quality care and a focus on quality products for consumers.
“Michigan has some of the best quality milk there is,” Okkema told commissioners, adding that dairy farming is on a slight decline in Michigan for a variety of reasons but that it will remain a solid industry.
“Dairy farming is not going anywhere in Michigan,” she said. “We are really setting that new level of other states and other farms to get to where we’re at to continue to progress the United States dairy industry.”
At the same time, some current dairy farmers find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to growth or expansion because of the major financial commitment involved, Okkema said.
In layman’s terms, dairy cattle need a balanced diet, and that requires nutrition that is more easily accessible to Midwestern dairy farmers because of water restrictions in some western states that are larger in area than Michigan.
Michigan’s more temperate climate is better for dairy cattle as well, and much of what makes for good milk production is management and genetics, Okkema said.
