NYCM Insurance knows that the significance of dairy farms cannot be
overstated.
We are proud supporters of several dairy and farming initiatives in
our local community. Not only was NYCM Insurance founded by a group of farmers
who came together after one farmer lost everything in a fire over 120 years
ago, but farming families still make up a large part of our employee base
today. American dairy farms provide critical resources and incomes to thousands
of rural families. Unfortunately,
because of supply and demand imbalance, we are starting to see a lot of those
farms disappear. According to the National Farmers Union, between 1992 and
2018, over 94,000
family dairy farms closed their doors. We sat down to talk with
NYCM employees with farming backgrounds to learn more about how we can support
our local dairy farming community. Continue
reading to learn more!
The Importance of Dairy Farms
Dairy farms have been a cornerstone of American agriculture for
decades. Family-run dairy farms have a massive impact, not only on our food
system but in both our global and local economies. Millions of
people across the world rely on dairy products as a source of vitamin D,
calcium, and protein. In addition to the nutritional impacts dairy farms have,
it’s important to note that thousands of rural communities rely on dairy farms
to provide a source of income for local families. Studies indicate that the
dairy industry accounts for $628
billion dollars in economic impact of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to the
National Farmers Union, the industry has created almost 3 million U.S.
jobs, which has generated nearly $159 billion in wages.
However, the rising trend for
finding dairy alternatives coupled with an oversaturated market means that
farmers are finding it more and more difficult to turn a profit, making it less
and less likely that the
business will survive with each passing year. The National Farmers Union also
reported that “over the past decade, the average dairy farm net income was
negative in all but one year.”
Continue reading below for ways that you can support your local dairy
farms.
Shop Direct
Kathleen Tyler of our Customer Experience Team says she is proud to
live on Sunny Acres alongside her
husband Lester, who has owned the dairy farm since 1973. Sunny Acres Swiss
Farm is a 500 acre dairy farm and is home to over 300 Brown Swiss cows. Lester
is known for his Brown Swiss cows that are among the nation’s best for breeding
and testing. Lester has even been featured by the Museum of Brown Swiss in
Wisconsin for his top-quality cows and breeding. When asked what someone could
do if they wanted to support their local dairy farms, Kathleen had this to
share, “The number one thing we encourage people to do is shop
direct. If you are able
to shop from your local farms directly, it makes all the difference in the
world.”
When you buy directly from a local farm, you are able to eliminate the
middleman charges for both you and the farmer.
“The best part about shopping directly from the farm is that you know
exactly where your
food is coming from and you can taste the difference in quality.”
Check Your Product Labels
Jodi Hawes of our Underwriting team grew up on a dairy farm not too
far from our headquarters in Edmeston. “My family farm had about 120 Holstein
cows which was a lot at the time. Farming is a great life, and I’ve developed
many life skills because of it. Team work, science, math, and of course,
work ethic are all things I learned early on because
of farming.” If you are looking to
support your local dairy farm, but the ones around you don’t sell directly,
Jodi says that you can still support local farms even when shopping at the grocery
stores. Often grocery stores will carry products from nearby farms, you just
need to look at the labels on your products to see where your product is coming
from. For example, every state is assigned a Federal Information Processing
Standards code, or FIPS code. If you notice a “36” on your milk carton, that
means your milk is coming from a plant in New York State! You might also consider checking out your local
farmers markets as farmers will often set up booths to sell meat,
produce, and other products.
Advocate for Dairy Products
One of the most impactful things that you can do for a local dairy farm is to advocate
for dairy products and incorporate them into your everyday lives! With millions
of people turning to dairy alternatives, and widespread misinformation on the
internet, it can be difficult for farmers to address the stigma that dairy
products sometimes receive. Stephanie Bader of our Brand Management Team
suggests taking to social media to help advocate for your favorite dairy
products - think milk, ice cream, yogurt and cheese! “Share recipes with
friends, tag farms on social media when shopping their products - or if they
don’t use social media, give them a shoutout and let friends know where to get
their products, and advocate to others in your community about the importance
of incorporating dairy products into everyday life.” Your efforts just might
help to bring awareness to products and help your local farmers.
Supporting your local farms
can be a fun and easy way to improve your family’s wellness routine as well!
Check out the link below to learn more about building
sustainable nutrition into your everyday life!
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