RICHMOND—Without dairy farmers, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy cool, creamy ice cream cones or frosty milkshakes.

So during June Dairy Month, celebrate the contributions made by Virginia’s dairy operators.

Virginia dairy cows produce almost 200 million gallons of milk each year. In 2011, the state’s dairy industry contributed $960 million in economic activity, according to the Southeast Dairy Association.

“Milk consistently ranks as one of the top commodities in Virginia,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell, who proclaimed June as Dairy Month in the state.

“Virginia’s dairy industry is extremely important to agriculture as a whole, and to the entire state’s economy,” said Tony Banks, a Virginia Farm Bureau Federation commodity marketing specialist. “It’s fitting that Virginia recognizes the industry during June and highlights the importance of milk, which is Virginia’s official state beverage, and other dairy products.”

In 2011, Virginia dairy cows produced an average of 5.6 gallons of milk per day, or enough to make 4.9 pounds of cheese or 2 pounds of butter. There are an estimated 96,000 milk cows on 715 licensed Virginia dairy farms, with an average herd size of 140.

Dairy farmers pride themselves on providing nutrient-rich foods for consumers and quality care for their animals.

“In the industry it’s called cow comforts,” said Matt Nuckols of Eastview Dairy Farm in Hanover County. “We realize the benefits of making a cow more comfortable and how much more productive she will be. So that benefits us financially and ethically, because we really do love them.”

Statewide, average milk production per cow has increased by more than 150 percent in the past 30 years, Banks said. “It takes more than good nutrition and genetic selection to achieve current production levels; farmers must provide proper care to their cows in order to produce milk at today’s standards.”

The state’s top dairy counties are Rockingham with 227 Grade A dairies in 2011, Franklin with 59, Augusta with 46, Fauquier with 28 and Wythe with 23.

Contact Banks at 804-290-1114.