June is National Dairy Month, a time to pay tribute to all our dairy farmers. The dairy industry has been on a tumultuous road over the past few years, and the outlook for these farmers remains bleak. Volatile milk pricing, labor shortages, negative publicity from animal rights activists, and the economic impact of COVID-19 all play a part in this.
According to Real California Milk, there are more than 1200 dairy farms in California, and 99% of these are family-owned. Statista reported that California and Wisconsin combined produce over 70 billion lbs. of milk, accounting for most of the milk sold in the United States. In fact, the United States is the third-largest consumer of fluid milk in the world. According to Statista.com, in 2019, Americans consumed 21,781 metric tons (approximately 6,345,000 pounds) of milk. These numbers will no doubt be lower in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Dairies throughout the United States have been severely impacted by school and restaurant closures. Due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. dairy exports were also affected as many countries stopped importing. Many creameries are telling farmers to reduce milk production because they cannot find buyers. Unfortunately, cows just cannot stop producing milk, and without demand, many dairy farmers are left with no alternative but to dump this excess milk.
Dairy farming is a generational business, and despite these hardships, families are persevering. These farmers are proud people, and they clearly love their cows and what they do. Evidence of this lies in the job of a dairy farmer itself. Dairy farming is a 365-day-a-year, 24-hours-a-day profession. Dairy cows cannot shut off milk production.
Makayla Toste is a 2nd-generation dairy farmer from Newman, California. Her father immigrated from the Azores, Portugal, and began working as a dairy farmer when he was younger. In 1994, he started his own dairy, which is now at full capacity. The Toste dairy has nine full-time employees.
Work on the Toste dairy farm starts at 3:30 am and begins with feeding the cows. Their cows are fed a nutritious food mix consisting of grasses, grains, and other ingredients recommended by a dairy nutritionist. Cows also need to drink a lot of water, and they can drink up to 50 gallons a day.
The cows are milked twice a day, once at 9:00 am and again at 5:30 pm. Then the milk is taken to the processing plant. The Toste dairy has contracted with Nestle, and most of their family milk is used for evaporated and condensed milk. There are different creameries for different dairy products.
All milk is antibiotic-free, and Makayla said this is often a misconception. Milk from cows treated with any antibiotic is not allowed for human consumption. In fact, precise testing is performed at the dairy before the milk is placed in the bulk tank destined for the creamery. Once the milk is sent to the creamery, it is tested again upon delivery. If any trace of antibiotics is found, the creamery must, by law, dump the entire tank of milk. Milk from cows that received antibiotics within a certain time frame will be transferred to a separate tank at the dairy, which is then used to feed the baby calves.
Dairymen must work every day because cows must be fed and milked regularly. In fact, most dairies keep rigid schedules as cows prefer routines and are content doing the same thing every day. This has been substantiated by the negative effects that happen when a cow is not kept on a schedule. Many times, dairies do not change their feeding and milking schedule when daylight saving time occurs, as it is too disruptive for the cows. Makayla also indicated that while her family could take the occasional vacation, it was difficult for her father to be away from the dairy for extended periods.
Makayla is the oldest of the three Toste children. Growing up on her family’s dairy farm, she loved spending her summer and school vacations hanging out on the dairy. She assisted with feeding the cows, administering medications, and helping with office paperwork. Makayla’s favorite job is feeding the baby calves, which she described as playful with a sense of humor.
Once the calves are born, they are taken to a special pen. This is an area that draws considerable criticism from animal activists. Makayla was quick to explain the reasons why dairies do this. First, it is a protection for the calf after the mother gives birth. Mother cows can become agitated when they are tired, and to protect the calves, they remove them. Secondly, the baby calves need to be bottle-fed. Separating the calves also allows them to monitor their health and development closely.
Makayla knew from a young age that she wanted the dairy industry to be part of a lifelong profession. She joined the 4-H program when she was 11 years old. This is a hands-on program in which students compete in subjects such as science, agriculture, health, and civic matters. Makayla was also very active in the Gustine High Future Farmers of America (FFA). FFA is an organization that helps prepare students for careers and teaches leadership skills through agricultural education. She was the recipient of the Robert Pires Memorial Trophy, presented annually to a senior who is highly involved in and enjoys livestock competitions. Makayla competed in the FFA dairy judging competition, which took her and three other classmates to the Royal Highland Show in Scotland, where she and her teammate placed 4th.
Photos by West Connection
Makayla was the first in her family to attend college and decided to turn her enthusiasm for the dairy industry into a career. She attended Modesto Junior College and then transferred to Fresno State, where she graduated in 2019 with a degree in Animal Sciences. She served as an officer in the Fresno State Dairy Club, where she served as an ambassador promoting both Fresno State’s dairy science program and the dairy industry. During her senior year, Makayla was the Fresno State Herd Manager for the dairy unit, which is 100% student run.
In 2017, Makayla was selected as the District 6 Dairy Princess. The California Dairy Princess Program is an opportunity for young women to represent the dairy industry and promote a positive image of milk and dairy products. Contests are held every year in each district throughout California, where contestants must appear before a panel of judges. They are judged and selected based on their knowledge of the dairy industry and their ability to speak before a public audience. These ladies often appear at business and agriculture events, serving as representatives for the California dairy industry.
Following college graduation, Makayla was selected as an international intern for the California Milk Advisory Board. This position offered an opportunity to learn about marketing dairy in the international marketplace. California provides more than 33% of all U.S. dairy exports to foreign markets.
Makayla spent 6 weeks in Cuernavaca, Mexico, working with the Imalinx marketing team to find ways to increase dairy consumption in Mexico. Currently, Mexico imports cheese and powdered milk primarily from the U.S. The fluid milk in Mexico is an ultra-high-temperature pasteurized product that provides an extended shelf life and does not require refrigeration. Makayla worked with a large retailer in Mexico, hosting seminars and taste testing on cheese and ice cream at the store level. These demonstrations increased sales substantially. She also worked on preparing a cost analysis comparing fluid milk and extended shelf life milk. Besides promoting the California dairy industry, Makayla enjoyed living in Mexico, which broadened her cultural awareness, allowed her to sample different foods, and helped her make new friends.
While her brother John Jr. is being groomed to take over their family dairy operations, Makayla wants to continue her work in agriculture on a broader scope. She is currently working as a Program Technician for the Merced Farm Service Agency (FSA), which is under the USDA. The FSA assists farmers and dairymen in times of need. Makayla loves working with farmers and producers, and her job allows her to continue building and maintaining relationships with the important people who bring us our food.
Agriculture is not a job for Makayla; it is an important part of her life. The dairy industry is part of her heritage and runs deep in her blood. She enjoyed working with marketing and promoting California dairy products. She wants to continue making a difference in the industry she is so passionate about and to bridge the gap between dairy producers and consumers.
~Christine Connell