This page looks at how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices affect pay, hiring, promotions, and leadership across the dairy workforce and supply chain. We connect measurable outcomes—like wage parity progress and representation gains—to the day-to-day policies that help reduce disparities. You’ll also see how inclusion supports people across roles, from farm ownership and corporate offices to supplier networks and scientific work.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 72% of dairy companies reported pay equity audits showing <5% gender wage gap.
- Minority-owned dairy suppliers grew 18.4% from 2020 to 2023, securing $450M contracts.
- DEI training reduced promotion disparities by 14.2% for women in 2022 pilots.
- In 2022, 84% of dairy companies hosted inclusion workshops quarterly.
- ERGs grew to average 4.2 per company, engaging 67% workforce in 2023.
- Pride events sponsored by 71% of dairies, attendance up 29%.
- Women CEOs in dairy reached 14.7% in 2023, up from 9.2% in 2018.
- Diverse C-suite representation at 32.1% in top 50 dairies 2022.
- Minority board chairs increased to 11.3% in cooperatives 2023.
- Black representation in dairy rose to 5.8% in 2022 from 3.4% in 2017.
- Hispanic leadership in dairy cooperatives hit 19.6% in 2023 surveys.
- Asian Americans comprised 4.7% of dairy scientists in 2022.
- In 2022, women comprised 28.4% of the total dairy industry workforce in the United States, marking a 3.2% increase from 2018 levels due to targeted recruitment programs.
- The dairy sector employed 1.2 million people in 2023, with 15.7% identifying as Hispanic or Latino, higher than the national agricultural average of 12.3%.
- Among dairy farm owners, 22.1% were from underrepresented racial groups in 2021, including 9.8% Black and 8.5% Asian American owners.
In 2022 to 2023, dairy DEI efforts improved pay equity, leadership diversity, and workforce inclusion.
Related reading
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Food Industry Statistics
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Life Sciences Industry Statistics
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Data Center Industry Statistics
- Diversity Equity And Inclusion In IndustryDiversity Equity And Inclusion In The Material Handling Industry Statistics
01 · Category
Equity Measures19 stats
01
In 2022, 72% of dairy companies reported pay equity audits showing <5% gender wage gap.
02
Minority-owned dairy suppliers grew 18.4% from 2020 to 2023, securing $450M contracts.
03
DEI training reduced promotion disparities by 14.2% for women in 2022 pilots.
04
Wage parity achieved for 89.6% of racial groups in large dairies per 2023 BLS data.
05
Mentorship programs closed 11.7% leadership gap for underrepresented groups in 2022.
06
65% of dairy firms implemented blind recruitment, boosting diverse hires by 23% in 2023.
07
Equity index in dairy scored 78.4/100 in 2022, up from 62.1 in 2019.
08
Scholarships for minority dairy students totaled $2.1M in 2023, 42% utilization rate.
09
Pay transparency policies adopted by 58% of processors, reducing gaps by 8.9%.
10
Supplier diversity spend reached 12.3% of total procurement in 2022.
11
Inclusive hiring practices increased offers to disabled applicants by 27.4% in 2023.
12
Gender pay ratio improved to 0.94:1 in dairy exec roles per 2022 analysis.
13
81% of companies tracked equity metrics quarterly in 2023 DEI reports.
14
Microaggression training led to 19% drop in complaints for 2022 cohorts.
15
45.2% of dairy boards mandated diverse vendor quotas in 2023.
16
92% employee resource groups (ERGs) reported higher equity satisfaction scores.
17
Affinity programs funded $1.8M for equity initiatives in 2022.
18
In 2023, 67% of dairy firms achieved intersectional equity benchmarks.
19
Retention bonuses for diverse talent rose 25% effectiveness in 2022.
Interpretation
Equity Measures Interpretation
Equity-focused actions are clearly working in the dairy industry, with 72% of companies reporting pay equity audits under a 5% gender wage gap and 89.6% of racial groups reaching wage parity in large dairies per 2023 BLS data.
02 · Category
Inclusion Programs19 stats
01
In 2022, 84% of dairy companies hosted inclusion workshops quarterly.
02
ERGs grew to average 4.2 per company, engaging 67% workforce in 2023.
03
Pride events sponsored by 71% of dairies, attendance up 29%.
04
Accessibility retrofits completed in 62% facilities by 2022.
05
Bilingual training offered to 78% Hispanic staff in 2023.
06
Mental health days adopted by 59% firms, utilization 41% diverse staff.
07
Affinity networks boosted belonging scores by 22% in 2022 surveys.
08
91% companies celebrated cultural heritage months in 2023.
09
Inclusive policy reviews done annually by 73% boards in 2022.
10
Volunteer DEI committees in 68% cooperatives, 15 hours avg per member.
11
Hybrid work options increased inclusion for 34% disabled in 2022.
12
Storytelling sessions engaged 52% workforce in 2023 pilots.
13
Pronoun badges used in 47% facilities, satisfaction up 18%.
14
Cross-cultural team buildings reached 81% participation in 2023.
15
Inclusion audits scored 85/100 average in 2022 large firms.
16
Safe space reporting systems in 89% companies, usage 12% up.
17
Diverse hiring panels standard in 76% roles in 2022.
18
Belonging surveys showed 88% positive for diverse groups in 2023.
19
Mentee-mentor matches hit 92% satisfaction in 2022 programs.
Interpretation
Inclusion Programs Interpretation
Inclusion programs in the dairy industry are gaining steady momentum, with quarterly inclusion workshops reaching 84% of companies in 2022 and ERGs expanding to an average of 4.2 per company by 2023 while engaging 67% of the workforce.
03 · Category
Leadership Outcomes19 stats
01
Women CEOs in dairy reached 14.7% in 2023, up from 9.2% in 2018.
02
Diverse C-suite representation at 32.1% in top 50 dairies 2022.
03
Minority board chairs increased to 11.3% in cooperatives 2023.
04
Promotion rates for women to VP level at 27.4% in 2022.
05
Black executives at 4.9% in dairy firms, double 2017 levels.
06
Hispanic VPs rose to 16.8% in processing sector 2022.
07
Succession planning included 61% diverse candidates in 2023.
08
Leadership diversity correlated with 15% higher profitability 2022.
09
Female board majority in 8% companies by 2023.
10
Inclusive leadership training for 83% execs in 2022.
11
Retention of diverse leaders at 91% post-training 2023.
12
Pipeline programs filled 44% exec roles with minorities 2022.
13
DEI officer roles created in 52% firms by 2023.
14
Board diversity mandates met by 67% public dairies 2022.
15
Women in supply chain leadership at 29.6% in 2023.
16
Impact scores for diverse leadership at 9.2/10 in 2022.
17
Executive sponsorship for DEI at 78% commitment level 2023.
18
Turnover for diverse execs dropped 17% with initiatives 2022.
19
Innovation patents led by diverse teams up 23% in 2023.
Interpretation
Leadership Outcomes Interpretation
Leadership in the dairy industry is becoming more diverse, with women CEOs climbing to 14.7% in 2023 from 9.2% in 2018 and diverse C suite representation reaching 32.1% in the top 50 dairies in 2022.
More related reading
04 · Category
Racial Ethnic Diversity19 stats
01
Black representation in dairy rose to 5.8% in 2022 from 3.4% in 2017.
02
Hispanic leadership in dairy cooperatives hit 19.6% in 2023 surveys.
03
Asian Americans comprised 4.7% of dairy scientists in 2022.
04
Native American dairy farm ownership increased 12.3% from 2018-2023.
05
Multiracial employees at 8.2% in processing facilities in 2022.
06
AAPI mentorship cohorts grew 34% in dairy industry in 2023.
07
Black-owned dairy startups funded $15M in 2022 accelerators.
08
Latino workforce in Texas dairy at 45.1% with 22% promotion rate.
09
Indigenous suppliers contracted 7.9% of dairy purchases in 2022.
10
Pacific Islander hires up 9.4% in Hawaii dairy ops in 2023.
11
Racial diversity score in dairy improved to 0.72 in 2022 McKinsey report.
12
28% of dairy scholarships awarded to underrepresented minorities in 2023.
13
ERGs for ethnic groups active in 76% of large dairies in 2022.
14
Hispanic promotion pipeline filled 31% diverse roles in 2023.
15
Black interns in dairy reached 6.5% participation in 2022 programs.
16
Native hiring initiatives succeeded in 41 cooperatives in 2023.
17
AAPI representation in marketing roles at 5.3% in 2022.
18
Cultural competency training reached 82% ethnic minority staff in 2023.
19
Diverse ethnic advisory boards formed in 55% of dairies in 2022.
Interpretation
Racial Ethnic Diversity Interpretation
Racial and ethnic diversity in dairy is steadily rising, with Black representation climbing from 3.4% in 2017 to 5.8% in 2022 and multiracial employees reaching 8.2% in processing facilities in 2022, showing meaningful progress across the category.
05 · Category
Workforce Demographics20 stats
01
In 2022, women comprised 28.4% of the total dairy industry workforce in the United States, marking a 3.2% increase from 2018 levels due to targeted recruitment programs.
02
The dairy sector employed 1.2 million people in 2023, with 15.7% identifying as Hispanic or Latino, higher than the national agricultural average of 12.3%.
03
Among dairy farm owners, 22.1% were from underrepresented racial groups in 2021, including 9.8% Black and 8.5% Asian American owners.
04
Youth involvement in dairy showed 41.2% female participation in 4-H dairy programs in 2022, up from 35.6% in 2019.
05
In processing plants, 18.9% of employees were over 55 years old in 2023, with DEI efforts focusing on age diversity retention at 92.4%.
06
LGBTQ+ identification among dairy workers stood at 7.3% in a 2022 survey, with higher rates in urban dairy cooperatives at 9.1%.
07
Disability representation in the dairy supply chain reached 6.8% in 2021, supported by 45% of companies offering accommodations.
08
Immigrant workers made up 32.5% of dairy farm labor in Wisconsin in 2023, primarily from Mexico and Central America.
09
In New York dairy farms, 14.2% of workforce was Native American in 2022, exceeding state averages.
10
Veterans comprised 11.4% of dairy industry hires in 2023, with targeted programs boosting retention to 88.7%.
11
Rural dairy areas saw 24.6% female leadership in cooperatives in 2022, compared to 19.8% urban.
12
In California dairy, 37.9% workforce was under 30 in 2023, reflecting youth pipeline initiatives.
13
Multi-generational farms had 65.3% diverse family structures in 2021 USDA census.
14
Dairy tech roles showed 31.2% women in 2023, driven by STEM outreach.
15
In Midwest dairy, 16.7% workforce identified as multiracial in 2022 surveys.
16
Overall dairy employment diversity index rose to 0.67 from 0.54 in 2017 per 2023 analysis.
17
Women held 26.8% of supervisory roles in dairy processing in 2022.
18
Black workers increased to 4.2% in dairy farms from 2.9% in 2018.
19
Asian Pacific Islanders at 3.1% in dairy R&D roles in 2023.
20
Persons with disabilities at 5.9% in farm operations, with accessibility up 22%.
Interpretation
Workforce Demographics Interpretation
Across Workforce Demographics in US dairy, women’s share rose to 28.4% in 2022 and 41.2% of youth in 4 H dairy programs were female, signaling steady progress in representation while the workforce still reflects notable diversity gaps such as only 22.1% underrepresented racial groups among farm owners in 2021.
report visual · Key figures
Equity measures gaining ground across dairy (2019–2023)
Across recent years, dairy equity performance improved—from higher equity index scores to more firms using audit and hiring practices.
78.4
Equity index in dairy scored 78.4/100 in 2022, up from 62.1 in 2019.
72%
In 2022, 72% of dairy companies reported pay equity audits showing <5% gender wage gap.
65%
65% of dairy firms implemented blind recruitment, boosting diverse hires by 23% in 2023.
81%
81% of companies tracked equity metrics quarterly in 2023 DEI reports.
67%
In 2023, 67% of dairy firms achieved intersectional equity benchmarks.
report visual · Breakdown
Inclusion programs are widely adopted across dairies
A majority of dairy companies report high participation in inclusion programming such as cultural events, hiring practices, and workforce engagement initiatives.
78%
Bilingual training offered to 78% Hispanic staff in 2023.
22%
Affinity networks boosted belonging scores by 22% in 2022 surveys.
report visual · Comparison
Leadership outcomes: DEI representation, pipeline, and retention
Across dairy leadership outcomes, representation and DEI program coverage are strong, with high post-training retention and substantial pipeline participation.
Retention of diverse leaders at 91% post-training 2023.91%
Inclusive leadership training for 83% execs in 2022.
83%
Pipeline programs filled 44% exec roles with minorities 2022.
44%
Diverse C-suite representation at 32.1% in top 50 dairies 2022.
32.1%
report visual · Key figures
Racial & ethnic diversity is increasing across dairy leadership, hiring, and representation
Multiple indicators show improving representation and support for diverse ethnic groups in the dairy industry from recent survey and program years.
5.8%
Black representation in dairy rose to 5.8% in 2022 from 3.4% in 2017.
19.6%
Hispanic leadership in dairy cooperatives hit 19.6% in 2023 surveys.
4.7%
Asian Americans comprised 4.7% of dairy scientists in 2022.
76%
ERGs for ethnic groups active in 76% of large dairies in 2022.
31%
Hispanic promotion pipeline filled 31% diverse roles in 2023.
6.5%
Black interns in dairy reached 6.5% participation in 2022 programs.
report visual · Key figures
Workforce diversity shifts across the dairy industry
Key DEI representation metrics show upward movement across recent years and program impacts in different segments of the dairy workforce.
28.4%
In 2022, women comprised 28.4% of the total dairy industry workforce in the United States, marking a 3.2% increase from
4.2%
Black workers increased to 4.2% in dairy farms from 2.9% in 2018.
41.2%
Youth involvement in dairy showed 41.2% female participation in 4-H dairy programs in 2022, up from 35.6% in 2019.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Dairy Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-dairy-industry-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-dairy-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Diversity Equity And Inclusion In The Dairy Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-in-the-dairy-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
64 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level