Water management is crucial to the sustainability of the agriculture industry. California dairy farmers are committed to efficient water use practices. Water is never wasted on the dairy farm and every drop is used to its maximum benefit.

Clean water is used to cool the milk and wash cows, recycled to flush manure from the barn floors and finally used to irrigate feed crops. California dairy farms are designed, managed and regulated to prevent contamination of all rivers, lakes and streams and the state’s groundwater resources. New regulations put in place and being phased in over the next few years include monitoring programs and require every dairy to develop protective nutrient and manure management plans to ensure sustainable farming practices.