Mass. officials support local farms during National Dairy Month
SHEFFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Members of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) celebrated National Dairy Month by recognizing several dairy farms in western Mass.
MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle was joined by state and local officials last week in visiting three multi-generational businesses in Berkshire and Hampshire County. These farms have contributed to the state's economy and local food systems for decades.
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'As a western Massachusetts native who grew up on a multi-generational dairy farm, I have a deep appreciation and understanding of how hard our dairy farmers work to supply us with the best tasting products that are made with pride, so we are proud to continue supporting the industry through the many resources our agency offers,' Randle said. 'Through preserving land to offering technical assistance and upgrading infrastructure, we'll continue to invest in the viability and sustainability of this critical sector so that all of us can continue to enjoy a rich assortment of delicious dairy products made by family farms across the state.'
Officials visited Pine Island Farm and Maple Shade Farm, both located in Sheffield, as well as Luther Belden Farm in Hatfield. Pine Island Farm spans over 1,500 acres and houses approximately 1,600 Holstein cattle, milking the largest number of animals in Massachusetts. It is a third-generation farm owned by Holly and Louis Aragi and was recently acquired through MDAR's Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program to protect the land permanently.
Maple Shade Farm is also protected through the APR program, managed by father and son Morgen and Ian Allen. It was first founded in 2003 with a handful of cows and has since grown to nearly 350 cattle, implementing energy efficiency upgrades.
Since 1661, Luther Belden Farm has stayed within the same family across 13 generations. Darryl and Lucinda Williams have added modern upgrades to this over 350-year-old farm, including a robotic milking system and an anaerobic methane digester that produces renewable energy from cow manure and food waste.
Massachusetts is currently home to 95 dairy farms that are mostly based in the western region, contributing over $61 million to the local economy and helping to preserve over 113,000 acres of open space. This National Dairy Month, officials are recognizing family-owned businesses that protect natural resources and reduce energy use throughout the state.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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