MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Surrounded by dairy farmers and industry leaders, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on June 8 proclaimed June as Dairy Month.

The proclamation recognizes the hard work and contributions of our dairy farmers statewide, said Reagan Bluel, University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist and educational director for Missouri Dairy.

Annually, the dairy industry in Missouri generates more than 24,000 jobs in production, process and distribution throughout the state and $3 billion of economic impact to the state’s gross domestic product, Bluel said. Farmers statewide are committed to producing the highest-quality milk every day.

Dairy foods provide an excellent source of protein, with essential amino acids important for human health. Additionally, dairy provides important sources of calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, D and B12, and riboflavin.

For dairy recipes visit, www.midwestdairy.com/community/recipes.

Photo available:

https://extension.missouri.edu/media/wysiwyg/Extensiondata/NewsAdmin/Photos/2021/20210621-june-dairy-1.jpg
Dairy farmers, dairy industry leaders and others joined Missouri Gov. Mike Parson during his proclamation of June as Dairy Month. Front row, from left: Alfred and Sam Brandt; Gov. Mike Parson; Chris Chinn, director of the Missouri Department of Agriculture; and Megan Bruemmer. Back row, from left: Ron Grusenmeyer, Gene Wiseman, Daryl Braun, Ted Bruemmer and MU Extension dairy specialist Reagan Bluel. Additional photos available at MODairy.org.