At Cayuga Milk, sustainability is not just a commitment—it’s a way of life. As a farmer-owned and farmer-run company, our efforts center on maximizing our human nutritional impact while minimizing our environmental impact. As stewards of the environment, leaders in regenerative agriculture, and providers of the highest quality dairy ingredients, Cayuga Milk recognizes that our actions today shape the future for generations to come.
Quality Nutrition
Quality nutrition is the cornerstone of Cayuga Milk. It all starts with superior milk—our quality standards exceed state and federal averages, ensuring the foundation for premium products. Our state-of-the-art processing ensures we deliver nutrient-rich, innovative dairy ingredients to meet the evolving needs of global consumers while minimizing waste and inefficiencies.
Human & Animal Welfare
We understand that the welfare of our people and animals is central to sustainable farming. In New York State, where rigorous labor laws protect workers, Cayuga Milk works directly with our farms through audits, regular check-ins, and training programs to ensure that we are meeting and exceeding labor requirements. Our online platform provides advanced training for employees, helping them expand their skills while ensuring the highest standards of animal care.
All Cayuga farms comply with the FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) program, as well as our proprietary CREATE program, with audits conducted every quarter —12x the industry standard —to monitor progress. We also engage directly with farm management and employees, building relationships to identify areas of excellence and opportunities for improvement. We also provide housing for many of our agricultural workers that meet state and federal standards.
Soil Health & Biodiversity
Healthy soils and vibrant ecosystems are critical to regenerative agriculture. At Cayuga Milk, 100% of our farms are biodiversity-assessed, providing unmatched transparency and data into the environmental practices that drive our operations. From implementing best management practices like grass and riparian buffers to monitoring tillage methods, cover cropping, and manure applications, our farms prioritize practices that enhance soil health and environmental resilience.
Each farm undergoes an annual sustainability review, bringing together industry experts and farm advisors. These reviews examine each farm’s carbon footprint, nutrient mass balance, and management practices while identifying areas for improvement and celebrating successes. This level of collaboration helps model improvement opportunities, track land-use changes, and implement innovative technologies.
Water Quality
Clean water is essential for farming and our communities. Cayuga farms use cover crops to reduce soil and nutrient runoff and advanced manure management systems to protect local waterways. Every farm follows strict CAFO plans, ensuring compliance with environmental standards.
Our farms are evaluated every three months to monitor manure storage, runoff control, and erosion mitigation. As a result of this hard work, our farms have been recognized nationally for our commitment to sustainable practices and protecting water quality for future generations.
Leaders in Regenerative Agriculture
Regenerative agriculture is at the core of our mission. By improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, restoring natural ecosystems, and reducing carbon emissions, Cayuga Milk farms are setting the standard for sustainable dairy production. We proudly uphold the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment and are active members of the SAI (Sustainable Agriculture Initiative) Platform, reflecting our leadership and dedication to advancing best practices globally.
Through transparency, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of progress, Cayuga Milk Ingredients is redefining the role of dairy in a sustainable future—delivering high-quality, nutritious products while nurturing the planet and the communities we serve.