March 31, 2025

In the past, the shorter shelf life of dairy has made it difficult to donate unsold food products before they expire. To combat this, Land O’Lakes began working with a digital platform that streamlines the donation and sale of short-dated food inventory.  

The digital platform, known as Spoiler Alert, has enabled Land O’Lakes to expedite quality food through the secondary sales market and donate the rest to Feeding America food banks near its distribution centers, with the added benefits of keeping food out of landfills and saving thousands in recycling and landfill fees. 

“The farmer-owned cooperative has turned an old, manual process into a streamlined system that benefits communities across the country,” points out Fast Company in naming Land O’Lakes to its list of Most Innovative Companies in Corporate Social Responsibility for the second year in a row. This year, it ranked No. 2. 

The Feeding America food bank in Fresno, California, shown in the photo, is one of the organizations receiving these donations.

To see the full list from Fast Company, click the arrow below. 

January 13, 2025

Land O’Lakes is deeply committed to supporting the communities where its employees and cooperative member-owners reside and work. 

Part of the mission is to help ensure a safe and plentiful food supply. There have been numerous ways in which the cooperative has carried this out. One of the most successful has been the First Run program. 

Launched in 2010 in partnership with Feeding America, the First Run program was created to aid national hunger relief efforts. In the past year alone, Land O’Lakes donated 297,675 pounds of macaroni and cheese through First Run. Throughout the program's 14-year history, it has contributed nearly 7.3 million pounds of product to food banks nationwide. 

In the above photo, Land O'Lakes employees are shown at a First Run donation effort. 

Click on the arrow below to learn more. 

September 24, 2024

The Dairy Alliance, a USDEC member, is partnering with the Virginia State Dairymen's Association, Maola Local Dairies and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks to combat food insecurity through the Milk for Good Program. 

From September 27 to October 6 at the Virginia State Fair, this initiative will raise funds and increase access to fresh, nutritious dairy foods for families in need across the Commonwealth.

Fair attendees can contribute by purchasing local dairy milk outside the Meadow Event Pavilion, with all proceeds benefiting Virginia food pantries and the State Fair of Virginia Dairy Scholarship program, which aids students pursuing careers in the dairy industry.

"Milk For Good exemplifies the strength and generosity of our agricultural community, and we are honored to support these efforts," said Geri Berdak, Chief Executive Officer at The Dairy Alliance. 

April 19, 2024

The 2023 Stewardship Report from the Tillamook County Creamery Association showcases a number of inspiring stories highlighting TCCA's dedication to the natural environment.  

From forging strategic partnerships to restore ecosystems, to empowering employees to enhance environmental sustainability, and engaging in community enrichment initiatives, this report is a testament to Tillamook’s ongoing commitment.

Click below to explore Tillamook's colorful and informative report.

March 4, 2024

USDEC member Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, together with Google and The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, have announced the completion of a project to improve water quality in the Northern Virginia region by installing streamside trees known as riparian buffers on five dairy farms.

The riparian buffers act as a natural filtration system by allowing trees, shrubs and other perennial plants to remove excessive nutrients, pesticides and animal waste from entering rivers and streams.  

“Dairy farmers are extremely caring for their land, and they want to see what is best for the land happen,” says Taylor Mickelberry, digital content manager for the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association.   

Click the arrow below to learn more. 

January 22, 2024

The Nature Conservancy in Michigan named Sarah Michalek, sustainability supervisor for the Michigan Milk Producers Association, the recipient of TNC’s 2023 Conservation Excellence Agribusiness Award. In her current role, Michalek has overseen a multitude of initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the dairy supply chain.

Click on the arrow below for more details.  

November 20, 2023

Under CEO Beth Ford’s leadership, Land O’Lakes’ sustainability business Truterra has paid farmers more than $9 million to sequester 462,000 metric tons of carbon as of May 2023. 

That helps explain why TIME magazine has chosen Ford among the 100 most influential climate leaders for business for 2023. 

Click on the arrow below to learn more. 

November 13, 2023

Five USDEC member companies have received USDA funding to advance ambitious industry commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, optimize water usage and improve water quality. 

Agropur, California Dairies Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association and Tillamook County Creamery Association received funding ranging from $4 million to $22.8 million through USDA's Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

To see what each of the USDEC members plans to do with the grant money, click the arrow below and download PDF.   

September 2023

The Ag Sack Lunch Program is an opportunity to teach students in Nebraska about where their food comes from and gain an appreciation for the meals they eat each day. It is included as a feature when fourth-grade classrooms visit the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.  

Along with a 25-minute presentation, the students receive a free sack lunch consisting of Nebraska-produced food items. 

USDEC member Midwest Dairy is one of the sponsors, along with the Nebraska Corn Board, Nebraska Soybean Board, Nebraska Beef Council and others. 

August 2023

Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay hosted U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) on a Pennsylvania farm in early August to discuss bringing flexible sustainability funding to U.S. farmers in the upcoming farm bill and beyond.

During the farm tour, Congressman Smucker experienced the sustainability investments made to the farm which included barnyard restoration and stabilization, manure storage, the planting of a riparian forest buffer, and exclusion fencing to keep cows out of local waterways.

June 2023

Prairie Farms kicked off Dairy Month in a big way by partnering with 30 Feeding America® food banks to donate 85 pallets of milk, which is over 346,000 milk servings. The donation honors the cooperative’s dairy farm families for their essential role in providing milk and dairy products to American families for 85 years.

Learn more by clicking on the arrow below. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.  

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.