USDEC Members in Action

California Dairies invests in livestock carbon marketplace

May 1, 2023

California Dairies Inc., the largest dairy farmer-owned cooperative in California and second largest in the U.S., invested in Athian, which purports to be the world's first carbon marketplace for the livestock sector, according to this article in Dairy Foods magazine. 

Athian provides livestock producers with economic incentives for on-farm sustainability practices, while helping improve global food system sustainability and reducing climate warming.

Biden selects Land O'Lakes CEO Beth Ford to serve on export council

March 1, 2023

The White House announced that Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford will join the President’s Export Council.

Ford will serve on the 25-member panel that acts as the major national advisory committee on international trade. Based on their extensive knowledge of trade issues, the 25 members will advise Biden and his administration on how current and proposed government policies and programs would affect U.S. trade performance. 

Click on arrow below to read article from Twin Cities Business. 

MMPA dairy farmers shine in national quality award program

February 2, 2023

Sixteen Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) dairy farms were awarded National Dairy Quality Awards by the National Mastitis Council (NMC).

These MMPA members make up 35 percent of the 45 nationally recognized farms in the annual award program. One MMPA farm earned the highest honor, which was granted to only six farms in the U.S. The platinum award winner was Crandall Dairy Farm in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Click on arrow below to learn more. 

Dairy media invited for up close view of Tillamook’s dairy processing operations

December 12, 2022 

Fourteen members of the media were invited to experience all things dairy at the headquarters of Tillamook County Creamery Association in Oregon. Wearing headsets as they toured the second-floor viewing gallery, they were able to see Tillamook's cheese processing operations in action. After getting a bird's eye view of the cheesemaking operations, it was time to sample some of the brand's cult classics, pointed out Dairy Foods magazine's Barbara Harfmann. "With all the deliciousness and educational inspiration from start to finish, the Tillamook Experience is one that I won't soon forget," she said. 

DairyAmerica is U.S. Dairy Exporter of Year

October 11, 2022

DairyAmerica is honored for its service to the U.S. dairy industry, its passionate approach to trade and for exporting dairy ingredients to more than 60 countries.

The Dairy Exporter of the Year award is given by Dairy Foods magazine and sponsored by USDEC in honor of the late Tom Camerlo, a former USDEC chairman with a vision to dramatically expand exports of U.S. cheese and dairy ingredients.

Learn more by clicking below. 

Darigold breaks ground on new production facility

September 8, 2022

Darigold, Inc. hosted a commemorative groundbreaking ceremony yesterday at the site of its future Pasco production facility. The $600 million facility is slated to open in early 2024 and will process approximately 8 million pounds of milk per day when fully operational from more than 100 dairy farms in surrounding communities.

Foremost Farms donates time, butter to Wisconsin State Fair

August 16, 2022

Foremost Farms offered its support to the Wisconsin State Fair this year in the form of product and volunteers. More than 1,000 pounds of butter were donated by Foremost Farms to the Dairy Promotions Board to be used at one of the fair's busiest pop-up restaurants, the Real Wisconsin Cheese Grill. Sixteen Foremost Farms employees committed to volunteering a total of 48 hours to the cheese grill. 

Click below to learn more. 

USDEC member MMPA spotlights farmer sustainability efforts

August 9, 2022

Efficiency is the name of the game for Brian DeMann at Clearview Dairy Farm in Martin, Michigan. With their 560-cow milking herd, DeMann and his family continuously seek additional efficiencies. They've found that many sustainable practices work hand-in-hand with achieving their goals. 

Check out the full MMPA blog post by clicking below.  

United Dairymen of Arizona unveils 2030 sustainability targets

June 22, 2022

United Dairymen of Arizona has joined the fight against climate change with its recently approved science-based targets, which provide a clearly defined roadmap to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals. To ensure United Dairymen of Arizona collected the most meaningfrul data, team members from across business collaborated to establish an accurate baseline.

To read more, click below. 

Community support a core value for AMPI and its Dinner Bell Creamery

June 14, 2022

Caring for others is a core value at Associated Milk Producers Inc. and its Dinner Bell Creamery. Just ask Dinner Bells' Randi Blackstad, who organizes a team for the local Walk for Diabetes fundraiser every year. Dinner Bell farmer-owners and employees invest significant time and funding in activities that support their communities. In 2021, the Dinner Bell employee team volunteered more than 10,000 hours for a variety of causes.

Learn more about Dinner Bell Creamery by clicking below.

Dairy Farmers of America helping to stock foodbanks

June 14, 2022

USDEC member Dairy Farmers of America launched the DFA Cares Foundation’s Farmers Feeding Families Fund in April 2020 as a way to meet the increasing need for food at America’s foodbanks as a result of COVID-19. The fund, which started with a generous donation from one of DFA’s family farmer-owners has since raised almost $850,000 and provided dairy products for those in need across the country. 

Click below to download a link to DFA's Farmers Feeding Families Fund. 

Outstanding dairy processing sustainability: Milk Specialties Global

June 7, 2022

Milk Specialties Global (MSG) acquired a plant to collect and process whey, a by-product of cheesemaking, into whey proteins. However, the whey supply from local cheesemakers far outweighed processing capacity. Instead of trucking the whey to a larger plant, MSG found a way to double capacity at the plant without increasing the facility’s environmental footprint. 

Click below to learn more about MSG and other dairy sustainability award winners.



U.S. dairy product profile

Outstanding supply chain sustainability: Land O’Lakes partnership with Bel Brands and Boadwine Dairy

June 7, 2022

USDEC member Land O’Lakes participates in a program demonstrating the value of feed production practices that improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project provides cost incentives, access to resources and expertise for participating farms. The first pilot took place on Boadwine Dairy, a member-owner of Land O’Lakes, and the program is being expanded to other dairy farms.

Click below for more details.  

 

Outstanding community impact: Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Assn.

June 7, 2022

With a majority of its members located within the critical Chesapeake Bay watershed, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MDVA) recognizes its responsibility to bring environmental solutions to its members and their communities. Volunteers from MDVA and its partners participate in events such as planting riparian buffers on dairy farms and trash pick-ups along waterways.

Click below to learn more about MDVA’s award-winning environmental initiatives. 



Video captures Darigold’s commitment to sustainability

May 15, 2022

Darigold’s farmer-owners have long embraced a spirit of continuous improvement and resource stewardship in sustainably producing milk for high-quality dairy products and ingredients. The people at Darigold take sustainability very seriously, joining the U.S. dairy community in pledging to reach GHG neutrality by 2050. Sustainability is an enterprise-wide priority for Darigold. 

Click below to view a video featuring Darigold's sustainability efforts.