Got milk? Our members help fill Texans’ refrigerators with milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese and other dairy products.

About 800 dairy farmers in the state produce more than 656 million gallons of milk per year. And that output is growing.

The industry not only benefits Texas consumers – it also provides a tremendous boost to both local and state economies.

For example, in Erath County – the highest milk producing-county in Texas – a study by Tarleton State University found that the dairy industry:

• Accounted for 31 percent of Erath County’s employment, including 1,980 jobs on the county’s dairy farms and an additional 3,932 jobs linked to the dairy industry. In addition, the Erath County dairy industry creates 5,014 jobs in other counties.
• Produced $123 million in income, about 18 percent of the total personal income in the county.
• Generated nearly $1 million in county taxes paid by dairy farmers; in addition, $9.4 million in taxes was paid directly and indirectly from the presence of the dairy industry in Erath County.

The loss of one 1,000-cow dairy farm from Texas would lead to a loss of $1.35 million in total personal income, 61 dairy and dairy-related jobs, and $113,238 in potential county taxes!