California dairy families have long been committed to management practices that reduce dust, ammonia, and smog-forming gases...

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• In the San Joaquin Valley, where more than 90 percent of the state’s dairies reside, dairies are regulated under two landmark rules, Rule 4570 and Rule 4550. This rules specify control measures for fine particulate matter (including PM2.5) emissions and other air emissions.

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• California regulators estimate that San Joaquin Valley dairies have reduced air emissions by more than 30 percent over the past two decades, including those that contribute to PM2.5.​​

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Continuous education and regular inspections verify compliance and continuous improvement...

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• Since 1997, the award-winning California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP) has been helping dairy farm families and employees protect water and air quality, improve animal care, and enhance food safety and farm security by. The program provides science-based education and training and third-party certification.

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• The CDQAP also serves as a forum to promote continual improvement of resource management and air and water quality protection.

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• California dairies are also subject to multiple environmental permits and regular inspections by regional water quality authorities, regional air agencies, and county land use authorities. 

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California dairy farms are investing efforts to help effectively clean the San Joaquin Valley air...

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• The majority of California’s dairy farms are located in the San Joaquin Valley, where major roadways such as Interstate-5 and State Route 99 facilitate a significant amount of daily freight and passenger transportation. Through adoption of dairy digesters, farms are creating clean, renewable natural gas (RNG), electricity, and hydrogen that is replacing the use of diesel and fossil gasoline in transportation. In total, California dairy farms power more than 17,000 vehicles daily. The significant reduction of NOx emissions from diesel fleets that have been converted to RNG is providing immediate clear-air benefits to local communities.

 

• ​A growing number of dairy farms are partnering with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to transform the daily feeding process by using electric feed mixers. Projects to date have reduced annual emissions of nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide (collectively, NOx) by 164 tons. That’s equivalent to removing 1,000 heavy-duty trucks from the road.

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• Dairy farmers have been proud to participate alongside other farmers in the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's Agricultural Equipment Replacement Program, which has replaced about 15,000 tractors, pumps and other equipment during the last two decades using more than $2 billion in public and private investment. One of the financial sources for the Ag Equipment Replacement Program is the FARMER program (paid for out of California cap-and-trade revenues) is credited with removing 380,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and 27,500 tons of air particulate matter and nitrogen emissions since 2017.

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Ninety-nine percent of California dairy farms are family-owned. This is why taking care of and sustaining natural resources with a minimized environmental footprint for future generations is a top priority for dairy farmers.

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