We are proud to share UDA’s 2026 Stewardship Update, which provides an in-depth look at the progress, partnerships, and people advancing responsible dairy production throughout our cooperative.
Turning Commitments into Measurable Progress
The update highlights UDA’s continued efforts to reduce emissions, invest in cleaner energy, improve operational efficiency, responsibly manage resources, and strengthen the measurement and documentation of our sustainability programs.
Key environmental highlights include:
- Scope 1 emissions have decreased 15.27% since UDA’s 2018 baseline year.
- Location-based Scope 2 emissions have decreased 22.2% since 2018.
- More than half of UDA’s milk-hauling fleet has been converted to compressed natural gas.
- UDA maintained a 99.6% waste diversion rate.
The report also provides a transparent look at areas that require continued attention. For example, an increase in water-use intensity prompted a deeper review of process-level consumption and new efforts to strengthen collaboration, review performance more frequently, and identify additional efficiency opportunities.
Caring for Animals Through People, Science, and Innovation
Animal wellbeing remains foundational to high-quality milk and sustainable dairy operations. UDA member dairies use preventative care, skilled animal care teams, advanced cooling systems, wearable monitoring technologies, genomics, and other data-driven tools to support cow health and comfort.
The update also introduces readers to some of the people behind this work. Dairy employees share their perspectives on caring for cows, identifying health concerns, supporting herd wellbeing, and taking pride in the meaningful responsibilities they carry every day.
Investing in Employees and Communities
Stewardship extends beyond environmental practices. During the reporting year, UDA contributed more than $68,000 in community impact, logged over 70 employee volunteer hours, donated more than 3,500 half-pints of milk, and supported a milk drive that provided more than 1,000 gallons of milk to people in need. UDA’s annual golf tournament also raised $44,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley.
UDA continued investing in its workforce through employee engagement, safety training, and leadership development. Employees completed more than 12,000 training courses, including over 4,400 safety-related modules. The update also highlights a 12-month leadership development program serving 40 leaders across two cohorts.
Working Together for the Future
The strength of UDA’s stewardship efforts comes from all the member dairy farms and UDA employees who work together every day to make a difference. Dairy farm families, employees, customers, and partners each play an important role in helping UDA improve, innovate, and remain accountable.
The 2026 Stewardship Update celebrates meaningful accomplishments while maintaining a clear focus on the work ahead. By connecting strategy with practical action, UDA is continuing to build a stronger and more sustainable future for its cooperative, its communities, and the next generation of Arizona dairy farmers.
