This Sustainable Dairy Model Wins ‘MVP’

When it comes to solving problems, it is said that two heads are better than one, so it makes perfect sense that when two families share one common vision, success can be found. MVP Dairy is proof of that, as they began milking cows on a green site in Celina, Ohio in November 2018 because two families shared one common vision. That vision in essence is a combination of two generation farming families realizing that they could close the operational gaps for one another by partnering together. “We created a business model that can be viable and beneficial for future generations,” one of the owners, Ken McCarty says. “Our business model was built from a social, environmental, and welfare focus on both cows and team members, as well as the economic impact.” 

Add in their complete approach to sustainability and their strong commitment to becoming carbon neutral and it’s clear as to why they were recently recognized as one of the U.S. Dairy 2021 Sustainability Winners.

According to Scott Higgins, CEO of the American Dairy Association Mideast the U.S. dairy community is committed to achieving carbon neutrality of better by 2050. “MVP Dairy is leading by example and uncovering new practices and technologies in sustainability to benefit dairy farms across the country.” 

Early Beginnings

More than a hundred years ago, the McCarty family got its start milking cows in northeast Pennsylvania and they used their strong commitment to cows, people and land to help propel their business forward. Today, they operate four additional dairies in both Kansas and Nebraska. Capitalizing on their already existing relationship with Danone North America, the McCarty’s ventured east to Ohio, where they met the VanTilburg family, who were like-minded, progressive farmers. Together they formed the McCarty-VanTilburg Partnership (MVP Dairy LLC.) located only 20 miles from the plant in Minster.  

MVP Dairy milks 3,900 cows three times daily in an 80-cow rotary and cows are housed in one of six identical tunnel-ventilated, six-row barns with inverted feed lanes. MVP cows have responded well to their environment, producing more than a 100 pounds daily—all of which is credited to the facility design, good management and genetics.

Regenerative Farming

Head out to the fields and one can see the families’ unwavering commitment to sustainability illustrated on their 4,500 acres. Their holistic approach to sustainability focuses on manure management, soil health, biodiversity and animal welfare. MVP’s farming practices include no-till methods, grid soil sampling, grass filter strips along open ditches, precision irrigation and variable-rate nutrient application technology. The results from these renewed farming practices generated big results, including a reduction of 6,755 tons of CO₂ last year, which is equivalent to the average yearly energy use of 662 American homes. Additionally, MVP Dairy was able to sequester 1,842 tons of carbon and save 5,499 tons of soil from erosion, an equivalent to 344 dump trucks of soil. Their manure management system produces an estimated 60% fewer emissions than a traditional system and creates a water source to irrigate cropland.

“Sustainability, whether environmental, community or business, has always been a keystone principle for our overall business,” says McCarty. "The VanTilburg Family shares those same values which is why it's been a successful partnership."

Dairy Learning Center

Being both open and transparent has been a mainstay at MVP Dairy and opening their barn doors to the community was imperative to the families. Therefore, they built a 15,000-square-foot Dairy Learning Center that includes virtual reality, digital displays and a viewing deck over their rotary parlor that allows MVP to offer farm tours to the public. This learning experience illustrates MVP Dairy’s innovative practices and top-notch animal care that provides an interactive learning experience for any group—whether it be for school children, tour groups or nearby travelers. According to McCarty, the Dairy Learning Center drastically exceeded the family’s wildest expectation. “We depend on the communities in which we live and work and wanted to create an educational space to foster open communication with the public,” McCarty says.

Sustainable Meaning

With MVP Dairy as the example, McCarty stands firm on the importance of sustainable dairying as part of the blueprint that will carry McCarty Family Farms into the future. “We want to be a source of inspiration,” McCarty notes. “Both our families are fourth-generation farmers and while our children may or may not choose to be the fifth generation, we feel the need to create a model that can sustain itself for the next generation.”

Receiving the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award was a huge honor for the families to be recognized by the industry. “More importantly it’s an honor to share the stage with other farms and processors (past, present and future) that are doing some extremely innovative things,” McCarty adds. “We don’t do this for the accolades and awards, but simply because it is the right thing to do.”