Hanford highlight
Superior Dairy
Kings County ranks among California's top dairy regions, with milk production valued at over $676 million annually, supporting hundreds of operations across the county.
Dairy farming is the foundation of Kings County's economy. In 2018, milk was the top agricultural commodity in the county with a value of $676.7 million, according to county agricultural records. Farmers in the region operate dairy operations ranging from family farms to larger commercial facilities, relying on the valley's irrigation systems and established supply chains.
The dairy industry connects families throughout Hanford and Kings County to a global market: milk processors, equipment suppliers, feed producers, veterinary services, and transportation all depend on the region's dairy operations. Price fluctuations in the commodity market directly affect farm household incomes and planning. A dairy family's income can shift by thousands of dollars monthly based on milk prices, which historically have ranged from under $10 per hundredweight in economic downturns to $22 during stronger periods.
For dairy families in particular, life insurance serves a different but equally important role than for other workers: it protects against the loss of the person managing operations, overseeing finances, or handling relationships with lenders and cooperatives. A term policy sized to cover key business debts and operating costs for the transition period gives a family time to decide whether to continue the operation or pursue other options.