Press Release  State Agricultural Officials Tour Local Dairy Farms to Celebrate National Dairy Month

Sheffield — In recognition of June as National Dairy Month, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle visited three dairy farms in Western Massachusetts alongside state and local officials. These farms are multi-generational, family-owned businesses that provide the state and region with fresh milk and value-added dairy products, contributing to a robust local food system and supporting the local economy.

“As a Western Massachusetts native who grew up on a multi-generational dairy farm, I have a deep appreciation and understanding of how hard our dairy farmers work to supply us with the best tasting products that are made with pride, so we are proud to continue supporting the industry through the many resources our agency offers,” said MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle. “Through preserving land to offering technical assistance and upgrading infrastructure, we’ll continue to invest in the viability and sustainability of this critical sector so that all of us can continue to enjoy a rich assortment of delicious dairy products made by family farms across the state.”

Today’s farm visits were to Pine Island Farm and Maple Shade Farm, in Sheffield, and Luther Belden Farm in Hatfield. Pine Island Farm is a third-generation dairy farm owned by Holly and Louis Aragi, with over 1,500 acres of land and approximately 1,600 head of Holstein cattle. The farm milks the largest number of animals in the state, producing an average of 20 million pounds of milk per year. Additionally, the farm uses their land to grow feed for their cattle. Recently, the farm was acquired through MDAR’s innovative Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program, permanently protecting the land, ensuring it remains in agricultural production for future generations of farmers.

Maple Shade Farm, owned by Morven Allen, spans 155 acres. Since its inception in 2003 with just a few cows and calves, Allen has grown his herd to nearly 350 head, which he manages with his son, Ian. The farm is also an APR farm and has received additional support from MDAR through its APR Improvement Program (AIP) to construct a dairy barn and Climate Smart Agricultural Program (CSAP) to help upgrade its energy efficiency.

Luther Belden Farm has been in the same family since 1661, spanning 13 generations. For over 350 years, the farm has raised cattle, produced milk, and grown crops on their land. Current owners, Darryl and Lucinda Williams have installed modern technology to enhance their operations, including a robotic milking system and an anaerobic methane digester that takes manure from their cows and food waste from local companies and produces renewable energy for the farm and surrounding community.

Dairy farming has been essential to the state's agricultural industry for hundreds of years. Today, Massachusetts is home to 95 dairy farms that contribute more than $61 million to the local economy. Dairy farms are located throughout the state, with the majority being small-scale multi-generational operations and most based in Western Massachusetts. These farms help preserve over 113,000 acres of open space, creating scenic landscapes and wildlife habitat. Many Massachusetts dairy farms use eco-friendly technologies that protect natural resources and reduce energy use. They produce more than 20 million gallons of fresh, nutritious, and wholesome milk each year, some of which are used to make delicious value-added dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream, contributing to a sustainable local food system.

###