Got U.S. Jobs? Dairy Creates Nearly 3 Million!

A nationwide campaign launched Monday has a relevant economic message for every state: “Dairy creates jobs, exports create more.”

A new informational campaign and online portal launched Monday shows that the U.S. dairy industry creates nearly 3 million U.S. jobs, has an overall economic impact of more than $628 billion and accounts for more than 1 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

At a kickoff news conference, the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) emphasized research data as they unveiled their “Got Jobs? campaign.

The joint effort features a logo reminiscent of the iconic "Got Milk?" ads, but with a different message: "Dairy creates jobs, exports create more."

Does your state #GotDairyJobs? Check out the new hub for all things #dairy jobs and exports, https://t.co/1YZbgu1irK. Spread the word: #Dairy creates jobs, #exports create more. pic.twitter.com/Mcsy0pm8kS

— National Milk (@nmpf) May 21, 2018

A new GotDairyJobs.org portal showcases hard facts and real faces of real people working real jobs, thanks to dairy. The resources are intended to help the dairy industry, news media and others tell the dairy economic impact story that is playing out nationally and in virtually every state.

The source for much of the data comes from Dairy Delivers℠,  IDFA's economic impact tool. The new portal enables users to quickly find state-by-state fact sheets showing economic impact and exports. 

One-page fact sheets featuring state-by-state data—as well as national data (shown below)—are available to download in just one click. 

More than 20 journalists attending the virtual news conference were told that over the next year, the site will offer monthly features, videos and hard facts that demonstrate dairy’s continued impact on jobs, tax revenue and communities around the country.

At the kickoff news conference on Monday, USDEC President and CEO Tom Vilsack described the importance of tax revenue provided by dairy industry to state and local governments across the country, including those in Iowa where he formerly served as governor.

“When state and local taxes here in the state of Iowa approach $1 billion, that is a significant amount of money that provides assistance and help in terms of keeping libraries open, in being able to ensure that there are adequate police and firefighters on staff and to be able to make sure that schools are properly supported. It goes right down the line," he says in the audio track below. (Click on orange arrow to hear more.)

“Dairy has a positive story to tell, affecting a wide swath of America, creating jobs and tax revenue in rural, suburban and urban communities,” said Vilsack, who also saw dairy’s impact first-hand as U.S. Agriculture Secretary. “I’m delighted we now have a go-to place where people can find state-by-state data and compelling human stories that reinforce the same message: `Dairy creates jobs and exports create more.’”

Using #GotDairyJobs, the dairy industry supplies social media resources on the site (at "Share the Story") that will amplify the campaign and create a dairy jobs conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

State-by-state fact sheets focusing on export data are also downloadable with one click. 

“As milk continues its journey from farm to table, it becomes a job-creation machine, employing farm workers, truck drivers, construction workers, factory workers, retailers and even cargo ship captains navigating the ocean to ports in fast-growing countries demanding more dairy than their own countries can produce,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “The United States is uniquely positioned to meet this growing global need, which allows U.S. dairy to provide opportunities for job creation and growth in the United States.”

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA, said the potential for increasing exports relies on a level playing field with global competitors.

"Backed by fair and proactive trade policies, the U.S. dairy industry will continue to keep and create jobs in states across the country,” said Dykes.

The video below shows national job-creation information by the numbers. The campaign plans to focus on top job-generating dairy states, one per month, over the next year with similar videos, as well as human-interest stories and other content.

DAIRY IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS: WATCH VIDEO BELOW 

For questions and ideas on how your organization can participate in the campaign, contact Mark O'Keefe at mokeefe@usdec.org.

Mark O'Keefe is vice president of editorial services at the U.S. Dairy Export Council. 

Learn more:

• VIDEO: "Got Jobs?" Dairy Campaign to Launch
• Dairy Exports to Mexico Create Nearly 25,000 Jobs and Countless Friendships
• More U.S. Dairy Exports = More U.S. Jobs

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The U.S. Dairy Export Council fosters collaborative industry partnerships with processors, trading companies and others to enhance global demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients. USDEC is primarily supported by Dairy Management Inc. through the dairy farmer checkoff. How to republish this post.