IDFA continues to demonstrate that the dairy industry has a powerful economic impact – $628 billion in total – on the American economy. Did you know that dairy also indirectly supports unique sectors across the nation, like schools?

Dairy products are an essential and nutritious part of school lunches, but dairy companies, distributors and retailers also support educational institutions in other ways. More than 31,750 jobs in schools, colleges and universities depend on spending by the dairy industry or dairy industry employees.

All told, the dairy industry has an economic impact of $2.5 billion on American education and supports jobs in this sector that provide nearly $1.5 billion in wages.

Dairy Delivers®

IDFA is taking these deep dives into the data of Dairy Delivers®, its economic impact tool, to demonstrate dairy’s economic power and its ripple effect on other American industries.

“These numbers illustrate a few of the many ways Dairy Delivers® quantifies the power and reach of American dairy product manufacturing,” said Dave Carlin, IDFA senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy. “In addition to calculating the effect dairy has on other industries, members can also use the interactive tool to show the number of jobs, wages, taxes and overall economic impact dairy products manufacturers have in their states and congressional districts.”

Members with questions may contact Carlin at dcarlin@idfa.org.