Moving cows out of harm’s way due to flood risks — CDFA working with dairy farmers, ranchers and government partners to help relocate cows and keep milk flowing

While California’s boon of rain and snow this year is a much-needed respite from drought as well a bit of a buffer against the hotter and drier conditions the state is facing over the long-term, the wet weather is bringing risks of flooding to pockets of California, and dairies in Tulare County and neighboring Kings County are already contending with high water.

In response to that, CDFA is working with farmers, ranchers and government partners to make sure cows are protected and can keep providing milk if and when they’re moved from their home dairies.  CDFA staff have put in long hours to provide farmers and pet owners with the most up to date flood information, to connect local and state emergency managers with on-farm needs, and have helped find livestock transportation resources when the water was quickly rising. 

According to local livestock haulers, thousands of cows have been relocated in the two counties, with a number of them lactating dairy cows moved mostly to neighboring dairy farms as local producers are working together tirelessly to weather the crisis. Local environmental officials, in partnership with CDFA, have issued permits facilitating safe milk production at the new locations.

Federal regulation is also in place for milk products, and CDFA, which has dairy food safety oversight in the state, is acting as a liaison with the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that products from affected areas may continue to move through interstate commerce.

Tulare County and Kings County collectively represent one of the largest milk production areas in the nation, producing about 37 percent of all milk in California, which is the largest milk producing state in the country.