In the face of higher water prices and prices for cows, the Colorado dairy industry is meeting a call to boost milk production.
In 2008, Leprino Foods, the world’s largest mozzarella cheese producer, agreed to build its second-biggest processing facility in Greeley, believing that Weld County — already a top-20 milk producer in the U.S. — and the rest of northeast Colorado would bring in 50,000 to 70,000 more dairy cows during the next several years to meet its demands.
While the Great Dairy Recession of 2009 prevented dairy growth early on, northeast Colorado has seen plenty since then.
The number of milk cows and heifers in Colorado has increased from about 116,000 on Jan. 1, 2010, to about 143,000 by April 1, 2014, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Much of that growth has taken place in the area surrounding Greeley — Weld, Morgan, Larimer and Adams counties, home to 90 percent of the state’s milk production.
More growth is in the works, according to local dairy industry experts.
Tom Haren, owner of Ag Professionals in Greeley, said four large new dairies — currently in the financing and water-development phases — could be coming to the area in the near future.
A number of dairy operations in the region have also been adding cows or building additional milking facilities, while some dairymen have moved in from out of state.
The dairy growth isn’t only needed by Leprino, though it is a major factor in the company’s anticipated economic impact on the region and state, which, over the next 20 years, is expected to amount to about $15 billion.
Source: The Denver Post