Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, seated, joins members of the Kentucky Dairy Development Council and the dairy industry for Dairy Nights at the Ballgames at a recent Lexington Legends baseball game. While in attendance, Commissioner Shell signed a proclamation declaring June as Dairy Month in Kentucky.
Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, along with dairy industry representatives and producers, signed a proclamation last week to honor the dairy industry and designate June as Dairy Month in Kentucky. The signing took place during Dairy Nights at the Ballgames, held at a Lexington Legends baseball game last Tuesday.
Shell stated in a release that June is a time to honor dairy farmers and their families for their hard work and the wholesome, nutritious dairy products we all enjoy. He highlighted that over the years, dairy partners have successfully adapted to the evolving agricultural landscape. Shell emphasized that June is the ideal month to celebrate Dairy Month and recognize the dedication and efforts of Kentucky’s dairy farmers.
According to Shell, the dairy cattle industry saw a slight decrease for 2024, with numbers dropping from 45,000 in previous years to 43,000 at the beginning of January. He mentioned that Kentucky’s 43,000 dairy cows produce milk — the Official Beverage of Kentucky — as well as ice cream, artisan cheeses, and other delicious dairy products.
Shell shared that, on average, each dairy cow produces nearly 6.7 gallons of milk per day, meaning Kentucky dairy cows producing over 150 million gallons of milk annually. He noted that milk ranks eighth among Kentucky’s agricultural products, with dairy producers earning more than $196 million in cash receipts from dairy product sales. On average each dairy cow generates an economic ripple effect of over $13,700 annually. Shell mentioned that Barren County has the highest number of dairy cows, followed by Adair, Logan, Christian, and Todd counties.
