Sustainable farming and supply chain practices are crucial to Land O’Lakes’ next 100 years as a successful, farmer-owned co-op. In line with our Dairy 2025 Commitment and larger climate goals, Land O’Lakes recently teamed up with The Hershey Company and Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay on Sustainable Dairy PA, an initiative dedicated to a more climate-friendly dairy supply chain.  

Sustainable Dairy PA is a boots-on-the-ground effort not only to protect the planet but to future-proof farms for generations of dairy producers to come.  

“None of this belongs to us,” echoes Andy Young from Red Knob Dairy, one of the 119 initial participating farms. “It’s just on loan from the creator.” 

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With that sentiment in mind, Sustainable Dairy PA will help farms focus on improving soil health, water runoff quality, and greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn will reduce dairy’s overall carbon footprint and improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  

“We recognize that global impact means teaming up with other leading organizations like The Hershey Company and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and we’re excited to support this new initiative,” says Glenda Gehl, Land O’Lakes Vice President of Member Relations.  

“We’re committed to developing measurable ways for our farmer-members to reduce their environmental footprint in a manner that supports on-farm profitability and meets the expectations of our customers and consumers.” 

With $300,000 of initial funding from The Hershey Company and additional grants, Sustainable Dairy PA will implement on-farm solutions that range from riparian buffer plantings that reduce stream bank erosion to animal waste storage systems that reduce pollution.  

Through strong partnerships with our member-owners and collaborations like Sustainable Dairy PA, Land O’Lakes continues to work toward achieving conservation goals while also maintaining economic profitability for our farmers.  

Read more about our Dairy 2025 Commitment announced this year. 

Learn more about Sustainable Dairy PA here.