Through a combination of the nation’s toughest environmental regulations and a statewide commitment to stewardship, education and innovation, California dairy farms strive to achieve the highest standards for environmental sustainability. California dairy families comply with strict environmental regulations that protect air quality and water quality at levels that exceed federal standards, and the standards of other states. Consider the following:

Full Environmental Review Comes First. All new dairy projects (and expansions of existing farms) comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the most comprehensive environmental law in the nation. Proposed projects are evaluated for all potential environmental impacts before project approval. This ensures that California dairy projects are environmentally sustainable before a single cow is milked.

Leaders in Protecting Air Quality. As part of the effort to improve air quality, dairy families are working hard and doing their share to be part of the solution. California dairies operate under the toughest air quality rules in the nation, adopting aggressive measures to reduce emissions of smog-forming gases, dust and ammonia. And the industry’s efforts are paying off. According to San Joaquin Valley air quality regulators, dairy operations have already reduced emissions by 28 percent since the rules were adopted in June 2006.

Click to watch a video about sustainability and California dairy families.

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