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What is the New Hampshire Dairy Industry?

The New Hampshire dairy industry is located primarily in the Connecticut River
Valley on the state’s western borders and along the Merrimack River Valley in the center of the state. There are approximately 130 dairy farms in New Hampshire with an average of 115 milking animals per farm.

The New Hampshire dairy industry impacts state and local economies with more than $141 million in total output, 3717 jobs and more than $19 million in labor income.  Dairy farming also helps support many businesses related to the production of milk such as feed stores, milking equipment suppliers and tractor dealerships.

Preserve and Protect New Hampshire's
Open Farmland

 Open farmland provides corridors along which wild animals can travel in search of food, shelter, and places to breed and bear young.  The availability of open space also provides significant environmental quality and health benefits. Open space protects animal and plant habitat, places of natural beauty, and working lands by removing the development pressure and redirecting new growth to existing communities. Preservation of open space benefits the environment by combating air pollution, attenuating noise, controlling wind, providing erosion control, and moderating temperatures. Open space also protects surface and ground water resources by filtering trash, debris, and chemical pollutants before they enter our water system.

The general pattern of many New Hampshire studies, as well as over sixty similar studies conducted in many parts of the country, show that the income from residential property is not adequate to pay for services that the residents demand. Undeveloped open space and commercial/industrial land require less services and provide dollars to the town or city (Taylor, 2006).

Industry Future

Dairy Timeline