The industry storytelling campaign aims to shine a data-driven spotlight on the positive effects of dairy's economic engine.
Over the next year, they will share in-depth data and narratives featuring dairy farmers, dairy company employees, retailers and others throughout the food supply chain at GotDairyJobs.org.
Economic engine
The US dairy products industry supports nearly 3m workers, generates more than $39bn in direct wages and has an overall economic impact of more than $628bn, according to IDFA's economic impact tool, Dairy Delivers. The tool also examines dairy's economic ripple effect on other sectors of the national economy, showing dairy is responsible for $24.9bn in state and local business tax revenues and another $39.5bn in federal business tax revenues.
Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA, said, "With the Trump administration's current focus on global trade, it's important for consumers and policymakers to understand how dairy drives the American economy.
"The United States needs sound trade policy that will place the US dairy industry on a level playing field with global competitors. Backed by fair and proactive trade policies, the US dairy industry will continue to keep and create jobs in states across the country."
The new campaign website will offer monthly features, videos and facts the coalition said demonstrate dairy's continued impact on jobs, revenue and communities around the country.
Using #GotDairyJobs, the dairy industry will amplify the campaign and create the dairy jobs conversation on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Positive story
Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of USDEC, said dairy has a positive story to tell, affecting a wide swath of America in rural, suburban and urban communities.
"I'm delighted we now have a go-to place where people can find state-by-state data and compelling human stories that reinforce the same message: 'Dairy creates jobs and exports create more’," Vilsack said.
Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, added, "As milk continues its journey from farm to table, it becomes a job-creation machine, employing farm workers, truck drivers, construction workers, factory workers, retailers and even cargo ship captains navigating the ocean to ports in fast-growing countries demanding more dairy than their own countries can produce.
"The United States is uniquely positioned to meet this growing global need, which allows US dairy to provide opportunities for job creation and growth in the United States."