In today’s world, sustainability is no longer a buzzword, but rather a necessity for businesses across all sectors. One company leading the charge is Legacy Ranches in Tipton, Calif., led by CEO Jared Fernandes.
Fernandes, who considers himself an average dairyman, shared insights into his operation’s sustainable practices at the 2025 California Dairy Sustainability Conference in Visalia.
Efficiency as a Way of Life
Legacy Ranches, a family partnership, takes the approach of adopting efficiency wherever possible.
The dairy houses cows in freestalls, with one side using recycled sand bedding and the other using separated manure solids. Each facility features a methane digester, converting waste into renewable energy, which is then sold to Calgren Renewable Fuels. The larger dairy also boasts a 1-megawatt solar energy system, net metering its electricity usage. The farmland efficiently cultivates wheat, corn, alfalfa, oats and pistachios.
“With us producing a product that is about needs, cost, production, ... sustainability fits right into that. We’ve been doing these things without the carrot, and we’ve been doing it with carrot,” Fernandes said.
The strategic location of Legacy Ranches near several dairies facilitated a partnership with a digester, illustrating regional collaboration for mutual benefit.
Innovative Practices Increase Efficiency
Installing the digester on its farm allowed Legacy Ranches to expand its capacity while sharing the opportunity cost benefits of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits. It has also implemented two solar farms on the ranch to offset the electrical power used to pump water. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of feed additives boosted milk efficiency, further enhancing its sustainable practices.
Recognizing the value in reducing waste, Fernandes says Legacy Ranches now bags all its feed because it can reduce shrink by 10%. This reduction translates to less acreage required for growing forage, demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship.
Adapting to Environmental Challenges
Legacy Ranches made a strategic pivot from Holsteins to Jerseys, driven by the water situation, allowing it to switch to a breed that consumes 30% less forage and produces a richer product. This adaptability not only enhanced efficiency but also ensured sustainability, a key factor for passing the farm onto future generations.
Tailoring Sustainability
Hansel New, assistant vice president of sustainability strategy and program for Dairy Farmers of America, says sustainable strategies cannot be one-size-fits-all.
“It really does have to be tailored toward dairy producers and where they’re at, how they’re farming and the size of the dairy operation,” New said. The approach must prioritize family businesses, ensuring it benefits the dairy producer and aligns with their operations and values.
Corporate Responsibility in Sustainability
From a corporate perspective, Daniel Peerless, global sustainable sourcing lead for dairy, meat, poultry and eggs for Nestle, underscores the external influences driving the push for sustainable solutions, citing regulatory, investor and consumer pressures.
“Sustainability is really doing all that,” he said. “It’s getting partners [for a] more sustainable future.”
Legacy Ranches continues to showcase how traditional agriculture can innovate with sustainable solutions. Its approach not only benefits the environment but also pursues a prosperous future for upcoming generations, underscoring the essence of true sustainability.
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