Dairy farmers have a vested interest in the sustainability of their farms, their animals and their land, and are committed to providing excellent stewardship of the environment - doing more with less means improved productivity, reduced waste, and managing resources responsibly. Under proAction, dairy farmers advance the principle of continuous improvement, so consumers can be confident that the milk they enjoy was produced with the long-term health of our environment in mind.

Download the Environment Fact Sheet

Environmental Protection and Resource Management at the Farm Level

All Canadian dairy farmers must meet provincial environmental regulations to safeguard natural resources. As part of the Environment module, farmers also develop individual plans to identify and mitigate risks on their farms, while pursuing practices to preserve our air, land, water resources, and enhance biodiversity.

Topics covered within these plans may include, but are not limited to, biodiversity, climate change mitigation, nutrient management, energy efficiency, pest management, soil conservation and health, water use and management, and woodlands and wetlands management.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Presently, dairy production in Canada represents only about 1% of Canada’s total GHG emissions. GHG emissions from dairy farms have decreased an average of 1% a year since 1990. As of 2016, the carbon footprint of one litre of Canadian milk is 0.94 kg of CO₂ equivalent, which is less than half the global average (2.5 kg), and among the lowest in the world.

Dairy farmers are working to reduce their impact even further. Here are some examples:

• Dairy nutrition advisors develop special diets for dairy cows to reduce methane production.
• Farmers employ innovative manure management practices to help lower greenhouse gas emissions produced during storage.
• Milk transportation logistics are optimized to find efficiencies that result in a lower environmental impact.

Reducing Water Usage

Dairy farmers use water for cows to drink, to keep them cool and comfortable in the hot weather, to clean equipment, and to irrigate crops where there is insufficient rainfall. Dairy farming in Canada uses just 0.02% of the fresh water supply in Southern Canada, where most of the country’s population and dairy farms are located. Still, the industry is finding efficiencies in our water use. Between 2011 and 2016 alone, water use associated with milk production decreased by 6%.

In addition, farms invest in eco-efficient crop production by reducing tillage, increasing crop rotations, implementing precision agriculture technologies, and selecting varieties of crops best suited to water and land use.

Optimizing Land Usage

Dairy production uses just 2% of all Canadian farmland, and only 0.2% of all land in Canada. From 2011 to 2016, dairy farmers reduced our overall land use by 11%.

On this land, farmers cultivate soil health by testing soil and developing plans for efficient land use and crop production. They also protect natural areas on their farms to provide habitat to local wildlife and pollinators.

Investing in Technology and Renewable Energy

Dairy production uses just 2% of all Canadian farmland, and only 0.2% of all land in Canada. From 2011 to 2016, dairy farmers reduced our overall land use by 11%.

On this land, farmers cultivate soil health by testing soil and developing plans for efficient land use and crop production. They also protect natural areas on their farms to provide habitat to local wildlife and pollinators.