Midwest Dairy
An Udderly Strong Partnership
Friends of the Big Sioux River and Midwest Dairy are proud to partner on initiatives related to water quality and water quantity within the dairy industry. Since 2022, Midwest Dairy has provided support for river clean-up events, Big Sioux Brew cheese pairings, newsletter articles, and native prairie seed starting kits. Click through the links and pictures below to see these projects in action!
South Dakota Dairy Farmers Improving Soil Health and Water Quality with Regenerative Agricultural Practices
Regenerative agriculture practices are currently at the forefront of conservation conversations. As widespread soil erosion and decreased land productivity continue to occur at unprecedented levels, farmers are turning to regenerative agricultural practices to improve soil health and restore degraded soils.
Dairy Industry Tackling Water Issues at a National Level
Many industries are rethinking the ways they use water, including the U.S. dairy industry. In the United States, milk production has nearly doubled in the last 60 years despite fewer cows, thanks to improvements in dairy cow health. Additionally, the water management practices of today allow dairy farmers to use 65% less water than they needed 60 years ago. This change in water usage can be attributed to improvements in technology and, most importantly, the recycling of water on dairy farms.
2023 Big Sioux Brew Release Party
2023 Big Sioux Brew Release Party
2023 Big Sioux Brew Release Party
2024 Big Sioux Brew Release Party with Native Prairie Seed Starting Kits
2024 Big Sioux Brew Release Party
2025 Big Sioux Brew Release Party
Learn More About Midwest Dairy
Midwest Dairy represents over 3,600 dairy farms to 41.8 million consumers across their 10 state region. They work on behalf of farmers to build dairy demand by inspiring consumer confidence in their products and production practices. Today, Midwest Dairy represents farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma.
Watch the video below to learn how farmers reuse and recycle water on today’s dairy farms. Hint: The amount of water that is reused is probably more than you think!
