Our farmers live on or near the land they farm. They depend on it not only for their livelihood, but for their quality of life as well. Not surprisingly, it’s important to them to protect and nurture these natural resources. 
The limited pastureland in Tillamook County and our nearly 100 inches of rainfall a year often make meeting national, regional and local environmental rules and regulations more difficult than it is for other dairies. But that only makes us more committed to safeguarding area land and waterways.
Environmental Projects
Over the past 20 years, the cooperative responded to this challenge by starting innovative environmental projects like the following:
- Fencing over 120 miles of streamside to keep dairy cows from damaging the banks
- Installing over 200 alternate cattle watering facilities
- Planting native trees and shrubs to enhance existing streamsides and riverbanks and cool their waters
- Managing cattle manure as a valuable natural fertilizer and an alternative to commercial fertilizers
- Building on-site manure storage facilities so farmers can apply manure when, and where, it is most needed with the least environmental impact
- Working with scientists to implement environmental enhancement projects
- Participating in state and local environmental planning, including the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership
- Working with local organizations to get coastal salmon back into their historical habitat by replacing problem culverts with bridges or a fish-friendly culverts
The Power of Partnership
We’re proud that these efforts have helped support lush, productive pastures, contented cows, and healthy and expanding stream and river areas. None of it would’ve been possible were it not for the truly remarkable partnership between our farmer-owners, the public, and state and federal agencies.
