FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Annie Hoagland
annie@calkinpa.com
530-304-7405

Advancing Climate Resilience, Protecting Water and Championing California’s Dairy Farmers

SACRAMENTO, CA – A new statewide effort to elevate the voice of California’s dairy farmers, advocate for science-backed climate solutions, and ensure smart public investment in agricultural sustainability and water protection has officially launched.

Dairy United brings together dairy producers, community leaders, and policy partners to advance solutions that help farmers stay farming, safeguard drinking water supplies, and protect vital infrastructure. The campaign launches as California considers how to prioritize funding from the proposed climate resilience bond (Proposition 4) and as landmark initiatives like LandFlex demonstrate the impact of targeted, transparent public investment.

“Dairy United was created because California’s dairy families are foundational to the health, economy, and resilience of local communities across the state,” said Anja Raudabaugh, CEO of Western United Dairies, the leading sponsor of this effort. “We’re launching this initiative to ensure our farmers have a strong voice in shaping public policy and can secure the investments we need to continue protecting natural resources.”

Launched with the support of dairy producers, industry partners, and local stakeholders, Dairy United serves as a hub for raising public awareness and supporting thoughtful and pragmatic investments, policy, and regulatory outcomes with measurable results for the communities most impacted by drought, climate change, and groundwater overdraft.

LandFlex—a program administered by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in partnership with dairy producers and other agricultural groups has already proven the power of these investments. To date, the program has:

• Protected more than 16,000 domestic drinking water wells.
• Permanently retired nearly 67,000 acre-feet of groundwater overdraft.
• Recharged over 22,000 acre-feet of water into depleted aquifers.
• Safeguarded hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure from land subsidence.

“Programs like LandFlex show what’s possible when the state partners with agriculture: drinking water gets cleaner, infrastructure is protected, and farmers stay farming,” said Raudabaugh.“ With Dairy United, we’re making sure every investment, whether through a bond or a state program, delivers value to our communities.”

To learn more about Dairy United and how you can support effective, community-rooted strategies for sustainable farming and climate adaptation, visit DairyUnited.org. 

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About Dairy United
Dairy United is a statewide advocacy and public education campaign powered by California’s dairy families. The initiative focuses on promoting policies and investments that strengthen sustainable agriculture, protect water and land resources, and ensure that dairy continues to deliver benefits to communities across the state. Dairy United is a project of Western United Dairies.