On the Farm

Washington is a great place to be a dairy farmer – and a cow! Our dairies are key ingredients in preserving our state’s natural beauty, open spaces and agricultural heritage.

Cow Care

A “principle” among dairy farmers is that happy, contented cows give more milk — and better quality milk — than cows that are unhappy. So, much of what happens on Washington’s dairy farms — from the physical layout of the farm to the milking cycle, from meal planning to housing design, from bedding arrangements to veterinary care, from noise-control to barn ventilation — is designed for cow comfort.

Sustaining the Land

The success or failure of every dairy farm in Washington is directly dependent upon appropriate stewardship of the land on which it operates. This relationship of dependence is so axiomatic among dairy farmers that they like to describe themselves as “the first environmentalists.”

Washington Farmer Spotlight

Hear audio of dairy farmers and others discussing Washington’s dairies.