For more than 70 years, June has been designated as the time to celebrate America's great bounty of dairy products and to pay tribute to America's dairy farmers.

Beginning in 1937 with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores' promotion as the first National Milk Month, June has been designated as a time to promote the dairy industry in support of America's dairy farms and producers.

Pennsylvania and Butler County continue to make significant contributions to the nation's dairy industry. According to the most recent Statistical Summary and Annual Report of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Butler County averages 3,500 milk cows with a total production of 71.6 million pounds of milk per year. The total value of production for Butler County is set at more than $14 million.

The economic importance of Pennsylvania's dairy industry does not stop at the farm gate. Secondary economic activity is generated by the purchases of feed, seed, fertilizer, machinery, buildings, milking equipment and veterinary services.

Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks as follows:

• In 2008-09, Pennsylvania produced 10.5 billion pounds of milk, ranking the Commonwealth fifth in milk production in the United States

• The state produces 5.9 percent of the nation's milk. California is first with 21.4 percent of the U.S. production, followed by Wisconsin and New York, respectively.

The number of commercial dairy farms in Pennsylvania continues to decrease, bringing the numbers to 545,000 dairy cows in 2009. On the average, each cow produced 19,360 pounds of milk with a total value of more than $1.4 billion for the state.

Pennsylvania also is a leading producer of manufactured dairy products. The production of manufactured dairy products is highlighted by the following:

• The state manufactured 402.7 million pounds of cheese, excluding cottage cheese, in 2009

• Pennsylvania is the fourth largest manufacturer of ice cream in the U.S. with production of 34.1 million gallons

• The state's processors churned out 79 million pounds of butter during 2009, ranking third nationally

• Pennsylvania produces more than 402 million pounds of cheese annually. As part of the total cheese production, the state produces a significant amount of Italian-style cheeses, such as mozzarella, with a total of 20.2 million pounds in 2009, ranking fourth nationally.

Although the dairy industry as a whole has come a long way since its beginnings, the dairy producer's job is a demanding one. Despite dairy farmers' hard work to produce good-tasting, quality products, recent times continue to be difficult. As dairy farms have gotten larger and more efficient and technological advances enable fewer farmers to feed more people, the number of small dairy farms has declined steadily.

The high cost of land, ever-increasing operating expenses, and dramatic swings in the marketplace all contribute to the declining numbers. Not only do today's farmers face numerous business challenges, but they also must begin their days well before dawn and work late into the evening every day of the year.

As you enjoy a glass of milk or a bowl of ice cream, remember the agricultural producers and processors who have made great advances in keeping our dairy products highly nutritious and delicious.

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center complex.