Consumers are becoming more interested in dairy producer animal welfare practices and environmental stewardship. IDFA has compiled several resources to help processors better understand practices on the farm, and to help them respond to any consumer and customer inquiries. Most of these resources were created by the Dairy Industry Issues Team, comprised of public relations staff from IDFA, the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP), Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).

• Animal Care on Dairy Farms Fact Sheet — This two-page fact sheet provides consumers with basic facts regarding typical practices on modern dairy farms.

• Dairy Farms and the Environment Fact Sheet — A two-page fact sheet that explains the wide range of environmentally sound practices that modern dairy farmers use.

• DairyFarmingToday.org — This Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) website was created by the Issues Team. On the site consumers can find first-person accounts of life on a dairy farm, fact sheets on topics such as the environment and animal welfare, as well as other resources. Processors are encouraged to link their websites to DairyFarmingToday.org, as appropriate.

• Animal Welfare Industry Comparison — Learn the guiding principles or policies of other companies, associations and the government.

• Caring for Dairy Animals — This checklist was created by the Milk & Dairy Beef Quality Assurance Center as part of an animal care quality assurance program. The program is endorsed by multiple industry organizations, listed on the last page of this document. Processors can use this checklist in considering the specific practices of their suppliers. The entire "Caring for Dairy Animals Technical Reference Guide and Evaluation Guide" is available for $25 by calling 1-800-55-DAIRY or by visiting www.DQACenter.org.