On Earth Day last week, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc. (DFA) released the results of an internal assessment that helped the cooperative to determine its carbon footprint.

“Whether it is in our plants, on the road or on member farms, we are working to ensure that DFA and our members’ legacies last for generations,” said David Darr, vice president of sustainability and public affairs. “This includes efforts in the areas of energy usage, transportation and animal care and wellness.”

The assessment found that DFA’s 21 wholly owned plants have completed or are planning 150 projects with a sustainability focus, from instituting new wastewater treatment programs to upgrading lighting systems. In addition, all five of DFA’s contract manufacturing plants have committed to the Energy Star Challenge, with a goal to reduce energy intensity by 10 percent or more within five years.

DFA also determined that average fuel efficiency among DFA’s transportation fleet increased over nine percent from 2009 to 2010. Adding larger-capacity milk trucks in some areas is also helping to increase efficiency.

On the farm level, over 30 DFA member farms conducted energy efficiency audits during 2010 in partnership with DFA’s Dairy Energy Services (DES) which identified an average annual savings of 31,922 kilowatt per dairy, for an average cost savings of $3,494. DES is also conducting wind and solar power assessments for member farms.