Finding the Delight in Being a Dairy Farmer

Aug 01, 2025

By Marie Morris

Whether it be small talk or a general conversation where I am asked what I do for a living, and I tell them I am a dairy farmer, I often get a very puzzled look in response.

I’m not sure if it’s because I am a young woman who doesn’t fit the “typical” dairy farmer image, or if it’s because I am “just” a dairy farmer, not something more elaborate. Either way, after stating my occupation, this typically leads into several questions about what I do, the lives of dairy cows and general farm interests.

As a dairy farmer, there are many joys that I get out of my career, but there are a small handful that easily rise to the top of my list. Those being:

1. Educating consumers on where their food comes from.

2. Every day is made up of the same chores, but no two days are the same.

And 3. Taking care of these wonderful creations and believing in tomorrow as a farmer.

I am in my fourth year serving on the board of trustees for my county Farm Bureau. One program that I am heavily involved in is ag literacy and public education on farming. Over the past few years, myself and a group of other Farm Bureau members have visited numerous local schools, libraries, public events and after-school programs. At each of these, we target a younger school-aged group of children, and sometimes their parents, and we read a farm-related story, do a coordinating craft and then allow time for questions.

It is so overwhelming to me the intelligent and curious questions the participants ask. Most of the time, they genuinely do not know even the most basic facts on farming, where their food comes from or how it’s produced. To be able to explain this to them step by step and tell them everything that is involved to get it from farm to table is so rewarding. Being able to make that connection for them, and for them to get to meet and talk to real farmers and understand that what their families are consuming is safe and was produced in a way that did everyone justice, is so incredibly rewarding.

Click here to see more...

Video: Swine Industry Advances: Biodigesters Lower Emissions and Increase Profits

Analysis of greenhouse gas (GHG emissions) in the Canadian swine sector found that CH4 emissions from manure were the largest contributor to the overall emissions, followed by emissions from energy use and crop production.

This innovative project, "Improving Swine Manure-Digestate Management Practices Towards Carbon Neutrality With Net Zero Emission Concepts," from Dr. Rajinikanth Rajagopal, under Swine Cluster 4, seeks to develop strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

While the management of manure can be very demanding and expensive for swine operations, it can also be viewed as an opportunity for GHG mitigation, as manure storage is an emission source built and managed by swine producers. Moreover, the majority of CH4 emissions from manure occur during a short period of time in the summer, which can potentially be mitigated with targeted intervention.

In tandem with understanding baseline emissions, Dr. Rajagopal's work focuses on evaluating emission mitigation options. Manure additives have the potential of reducing manure methane emissions. Additives can be deployed relatively quickly, enabling near-term emission reductions while biodigesters are being built. Furthermore, additives can be a long-term solution at farms where biogas is not feasible (e.g., when it’s too far from a central digester). Similarly, after biodigestion, additives can also be used to further reduce emissions from storage to minimize the carbon intensity of the bioenergy.