Idaho's Dairy Dynasty: Major Players Keep State at Industry Forefront

By Joseph Provence, a news contributor who writes about technology, business, and e-commerce.

Apr 27, 2025 2:30 PM MST

While famous for potatoes, Idaho stands tall as the nations third largest dairy state, a powerhouse fueled by vast milk production and sophisticated processing capabilities. Generating billions in economic activity and supporting tens of thousands of jobs, the Gem States dairy sector relies heavily on several major companies transforming immense volumes of milk into cheese, yogurt, butter, and specialized ingredients for markets worldwide.

The scale of Idaho's dairy industry is impressive. Milk production alone was valued at over 3.1 billion dollars in recent years, contributing to a total economic sales impact estimated at 10.7 billion dollars and supporting over 33,000 jobs statewide, according to industry reports. Identifying the precise sales figures for the leading companies can be challenging, as many operate as private entities, farmer owned cooperatives, or divisions of larger national and international corporations. However, their significant footprint is clear through massive processing volumes, extensive facilities, and large workforces.

Leading the charge is Glanbia Nutritionals, widely recognized as the states largest single processor. Operating four manufacturing plants strategically located in Twin Falls, Gooding, Richfield, and Blackfoot, Glanbia employs over 900 people in Idaho. Estimates suggest the company handles approximately one third of the states total milk supply, cementing its role as a crucial player in producing award winning cheese and nutritional ingredients.

International giant Lactalis American Group operates its largest U.S. plant in Nampa. This facility provides jobs for over 700 workers and sources milk from nearly 300 local farms, many within close proximity, highlighting the strong connection between processors and producers. The plant manufactures popular products under brands like Galbani for the global dairy leader.

In Twin Falls, Chobani operates what it calls the world's largest yogurt plant. This sprawling facility, already exceeding one million square feet, is undergoing a remarkable 500 million dollar expansion. This significant investment underscores Chobanis commitment to Idaho and reflects the massive volume of milk processed there.

Agropur, a major North American dairy cooperative, runs a vital processing plant in Jerome. This facility handles impressive volumes, processing roughly 5.2 million pounds of milk daily into cheese and valuable whey products. Another key cooperative, Darigold, which represents farmer owners across the Northwest including Idaho, maintains a strong presence with three processing facilities in Boise, Caldwell, and Jerome, producing a diverse line of dairy goods.

These five major players are complemented by other critical processors such as the producer owned cooperatives High Desert Milk in Burley, which recently completed a major 50 million dollar expansion doubling its milk processing capacity, and Idaho Milk Products in Jerome, known for its large scale manufacturing of specialized dairy ingredients.

Together, these companies form the backbone of Idahos thriving value added dairy industry. Their investments, processing capabilities, and strong ties to local farms ensure the state not only maintains its status as a national dairy leader but also continues to be a critical supplier of high quality dairy products to consumers across the country and around the globe.