By Jamie Martin
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has released the 2025 Dairy Delivers® report, showing how deeply the U.S. dairy industry supports the country’s economy.
The updated analysis shows that dairy generates a $779.45 billion economic impact and supports over 3 million jobs across the United States.
From farmers to processors, retailers, and transporters, dairy continues to drive local and national economic strength. The industry also provides $197.6 billion in wages to American workers and contributes over $83 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
“The data is clear: dairy runs deep in every community across America,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA.
“From family-owned dairy farms to processors, retailers, and community businesses, dairy supports livelihoods, sustains local economies, and delivers real value to the people who depend on it. These numbers reflect more than economics—they reflect the reach and relevance of dairy in the daily lives of Americans.”
The Dairy Delivers® platform is available on the IDFA website. Created with John Dunham & Associates, it features an interactive tool that provides state and district-level insights on jobs, wages, exports, and taxes in the dairy sector.
Other key highlights from the report include $8.2 billion in annual dairy exports, reflecting dairy’s importance not just at home, but also globally.
IDFA plans to promote these findings throughout National Dairy Month via public events, media outreach, and legislative engagement to raise awareness of dairy’s impact.
For more details or to explore the data, visit www.idfa.org/dairydelivers.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-vm
Categories: National