Dairy Farmers of America

This is exciting news from Elanco! Dairy farmers have always been pioneers of progress and we’re #DFAProud to support the adoption of this first-in-class methane-reducing feed ingredient into our farmer-owners’ herds.   “Bovaer® represents significant opportunities for our farmer-owners to potentially create a circular revenue model between their methane reductions and ability to participate in the carbon inset marketplace,” says Hansel New, director of sustainability. “Now that this important innovation has full approval from FDA, we will be leveraging grant funds awarded by USDA to launch pilot projects on a number of dairy farms across the country.”

As we close out Asian American and Pacific Islander (#AAPI) Heritage Month, we're #DFAProud to have team members like Lawrence Anguay, quality supervisor at the DFA plant in Schulenberg, Texas. His journey from the shores of Maui to the heart of Texas is a story many in the AAPI community can relate to. With a mother born in the Philippines and a father from Oahu, Lawrence’s upbringing was steeped in the values of hard work, perseverance, and familial bonds. "Growing up in Maui, my parents instilled in me an appreciation for life's gifts and a constant desire to always work hard," Lawrence says. "Perseverance has been a lifelong companion." Upon joining DFA one year ago, Lawrence quickly felt connectedness at his location and across the Cooperative. Lawrence deeply values familial warmth or 'Ohana,’ and expresses those values as he leads a tight-knit crew — one that is centered around collaboration and conversation. As the sole AAPI representative in his plant, Lawrence’s heritage has never been a barrier — instead, it's celebrated as part of the diverse mosaic that makes up the team. "Throughout the interview process, my heritage was never a hindrance and upper management welcomed me with open arms," Lawrence says, underscoring the inclusive environment fostered at DFA. We’re #DFAProud of Lawrence's story, which reminds us of the invaluable contributions that individuals from diverse backgrounds bring to workplaces at DFA and across America.

"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them." - Franklin D. Roosevelt This #MemorialDay, we honor and remember the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for our country. Let's honor their legacy by upholding the values they fought for and cherishing the communities we live in. 🇺🇸

While today is #NationalHeatAwarenessDay, our farmer-owners are dedicated to keeping their cows healthy and happy year-round! As temperatures rise in many parts of the country, they work hard to keep their herds comfortable with fans, misters that use recycled water, curtains in the barn and plenty of shade. How do you help your herd stay cool? Share your tips and check out this link from Dairy Herd Management for more on how to keep cows comfortable during the warmer months >> https://bit.ly/3UWVHqQ.

This spring's volatile weather has impacted many across the nation, including our DFA farmer-owners and their dairies. The image, shared by one of our farmer-owners, captures a tranquil moment on the farm, reminding us of the resilience of our communities amidst these challenges. #DFACares is actively looking to provide aid to those within our Cooperative affected by natural disasters. To help support our farmer-owners and their communities, please join #DFAInAction >> https://bit.ly/3cBgSYW. Your contribution can help bring relief and hope to families and farms facing hardships due to severe weather.

It’s #BrothersDay, and dairying is a family business for the Osinga brothers — but not in the way you might think. Immigrating to the United States from Holland, fourth-generation farmer-owner Frans Osinga and his father brought their dairy operation to the states in the early 1990s. Several years later, Joseph and Jonathan Osinga, the other two brothers in a set of nine siblings, followed. As they reached adulthood, the three brothers chose to follow their father's advice, and each operate their own dairies independently — all within 20 miles of each other. “My dad told us that he didn’t want us growing up and working together,” Frans says. “He knew we all loved doing it but didn’t want dairying to interfere with how close our families are.” While it may seem out of the ordinary for some, Frans and his brothers agree that it’s an ideal arrangement for their family. “We still spend a lot of time together,” Joseph says. “We get together for birthdays and go to church. Sometimes we get to go on trips together to places like Costa Rica and it’s really nice to do those things together.” While the brothers work separately, they still take advantage of having trusted industry peers just a phone call away. All three men admit that, despite their best efforts, dairying is a frequent topic of conversation at most family functions. Family is the cornerstone of what drives each of the Osinga brothers every day. They each agree that the cows on their respective farms are a part of their family as well. “I still pretty much know every one of my cows just by looking at them,” Jonathan says. “A lot of people don’t realize just how much we really do care for our cows. They’re at the heart of everything we do. We work day in and day out to make sure they’re well cared for just like we would do for our own families.”

The #Indy500 is on Sunday and we’re #DFAProud that Abbie Herr, a DFA farmer-owner from Herr Dairy Farm, Inc. in Kendallville, Ind., will be the Rookie Milk Presenter at this year’s race! Indiana Dairy selected Abbie as the Rookie Milk Presenter, giving her the honor of presenting milk to this year’s winning team owner and chief mechanic. The tradition started at the Indianapolis 500® by driver Louis Meyer simply requesting buttermilk to quench his thirst after the 1936 race. The Drink of Milk has since evolved from a thirst satisfying beverage to a ceremonial hand-off with an Indiana dairy farmer giving the iconic, glass bottle of milk to the winner with over 250,000 people watching in-person and more worldwide. Abbie and her husband, Steve, have dedicated their lives to dairy farming, their family, raising their herd and sharing their passion with their community. Abbie says she is especially honored to represent female dairy farmers, including two aspiring dairy farmers, her daughters. Abbie's commitment to sustainability and animal care has earned her broad recognition in the dairy industry, including the Young Dairy Producer of the Year award in 2023 from the Indiana Dairy Forum. Join us in celebrating Abbie's achievements and wish her well as she helps carry on this long-held milk tradition to the Indy 500. If you'd like to learn more about why the Indy 500 champions drink milk, you can read more about it here >> https://bit.ly/3wMABTX What kind of milk would you choose to enjoy if you made it to the winner’s circle?

We’re thrilled to announce the three innovative ag-tech companies joining this year's DFA CoLAB Accelerator program! Meet the 2024 participants: Rogue Cattle Company, Leaftech Ag Inc., and Zero Tolerance. ✅ Rogue Cattle Company is developing a smart device that continuously tracks methane output. 🐄 Leaftech Ag Inc. has created a handheld digital lab scanner for near real-time nutrient profile and crop characteristic tracking. ⚡ Zero Tolerance offers comprehensive solutions targeting stray voltage and electrical noise on farms. These startups will collaborate with DFA experts from May to October, driving further innovation across the dairy value chain. Join us in welcoming these companies and stay tuned for exciting updates!

We were #DFAProud to have been a sponsor at the 50th Annual National Society of Black Engineers Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, emphasizing our commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, specifically within #STEM in agriculture. The convention, which welcomed a record-breaking 18,000 attendees, aligns with our mission to support the growth and development of culturally responsible Black Engineers in the agricultural sector. The DFA/NSBE Scholarship, awarded to students like Theodora Okhagbuzo from the University of Kansas - School of Engineering, highlights our investment in the future of agriculture through STEM.     Theodora expressed her gratitude by saying, "Receiving this scholarship from DFA was not just financial support; it was a vote of confidence in my potential within the STEM field, specifically related to agriculture."  

There are endless possibilities for your career at DFA! We're looking for diverse talents, experiences and backgrounds to help enrich communities everywhere with the goodness of dairy. Discover our current job openings and see where you can make your mark in our team: — Sr. Manager Engineering-High Point, N.C. — Production Supervisor-Rockford, Ill. — Transportation Supervisor-Le Mars, Iowa Explore more opportunities at DFA and join us by applying now >> https://bit.ly/3rzBqGQ.