Start spreading the 'moos': Mills kicks off Maine Dairy Month

Gov. Janet Mills and three other raising glasses of milk for the start of Maine Dairy Month.

Photo / courtesy of office of Gov. Janet Mills "Let's all support the long-term success of Maine's dairy industry by buying milk and milk products that come from Maine," Gov. Janet Mills said at an event marking the start of Maine Dairy Month.

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By Renee Cordes

Raising a glass — of milk — to innovation in Maine’s dairy industry, Gov. Janet Mills kicked off Maine Dairy Month at the University of Maine’s Witter Farm in Old Town, home of the state’s newest robotic milking barn.

"During Maine Dairy Month, Maine people can show their appreciation by making sure the milk they buy at the grocery store is produced in Maine, Mills said. "Let's all support the long-term success of Maine's dairy industry by buying milk and milk products that come from Maine.”

MIlls was joined at Friday’s event by Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal, UMaine President Joan Ferrini-Mundy and industry leaders at Witter Farm, a teaching facility where students care for animals, bottle-feed calves and use robotic milking systems that offer real-time data on milk quality and bovine well-being.

"Witter Farm is an incredible example of how innovation and education are shaping the future of agriculture in Maine," said Ferrini-Mundy, who was honored as a Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year in 2024. "We're proud to highlight the ways research and student learning intersect to support the state's dairy industry."

$3B industry

Maine is home to more than 130 dairy farms that care for herds of dairy cows, goats and sheep and that steward 700,000 acres of farmland. The state’s dairy sector has an estimated annual economic impact of $2.96 billion, employing more than 13,000 people.

"Dairy Month is a great time to reflect on the economic and community contributions of our farmers," said Sarah Littlefield, executive director of the Maine Dairy Promotion Board. "We're proud to celebrate the hardworking families behind Maine's dairy products."

Mills took the opportunity to thank the 4-H members in attendance, noting that their presence was especially meaningful during Maine's Year of Youth in Agriculture.

Since 1939, June has been designated as Dairy Month in the United States, celebrating the abundance of dairy products and paying tribute to dairy farmers’ essential role in agriculture.