Crop Comments: Grass-fed dairying tends to deplete soil phosphorus

Dietitians tell us that a person consuming an 8-oz. glass of cow’s milk is ingesting approximately 232 mg of phosphorus (P), a nutrient vital for bone health, energy metabolism and cellular function. Taking these numbers further, I calculate that approximately 1 lb. of elemental P departs the farm in every 1,000 lbs. picked up by the milk hauler.