The U.S. Senate Tuesday voted 68-32 to approve the Agricultural Act of 2014 which contains a new program for dairy producers. “It has been a long and torturous road toward the creation of a better safety net for dairy farmers,” said National Milk Producers Federation president and CEO Jim Mulhern. “We didn’t wind up precisely where we wanted in terms … Read More
Dairylea to Merge with DFA
Dairylea Cooperative, Inc.’s Board of Directors has voted to merge with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). DFA’s Board of Directors has endorsed the merger, which requires approval by Dairylea’s members, who will be asked to vote during a special meeting in February 2014. Dairylea’s farmer Board of Directors spent the past three years in a comprehensive examination of how to … Read More
DFA Issues Patronage Earnings
Dairy Farmers of America’s Board of Directors has issued $29.6 million in patronage earnings to the farmer members of the Cooperative. This allocation, which equals 7.5 cents per hundredweight, was made to members who marketed their milk through DFA in 2012. Patronage is the Cooperative’s way of sharing DFA’s earnings with its members. While at its core, DFA is a … Read More
New DFA Plant in Michigan
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) has broke ground on an ingredient processing facility in Cass City, Mich. The $40 million plant will serve a region where milk production is steadily outpacing local plant capacity. At completion next fall, the 33,000-square-foot plant will process up to 3 million pounds of fresh milk each day, which will be supplied by DFA member … Read More
Cold Milk Separation Facility to Open in N.Y.
Craigs Station Ventures has formed a partnership with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) to build and supply a new cold milk separation facility in western New York. The $12 million venture, dubbed Western New York Enterprises LLC, will open next fall alongside a new methane digester and large-scale milking operation at Noblehurst Farms in York. A 14,000 square-foot facility, powered … Read More
DFA Representative Explores Brand Equity
Recognizing the significance young members have in the future of their cooperatives, Ted Sowle represented Dairy Farmers of America at the Northeast Cooperative Council’s Future Cooperative Leaders Conference this week in Batavia, N.Y. The annual conference is comprised of cooperative members who show potential for leading a cooperative in the future through governance or management. The conference allows participants the … Read More
DFA Takes Part in Immigration Forum
Dairy Farmers of America was one of the groups that took part in a USDA forum on comprehensive immigration reform held Friday in Kansas City. DFA Board Chairman Randy Mooney spoke at the event, telling the audience that current immigration policy is threatening access to quality, affordable food in this nation. “Because of America’s farmers, we enjoy abundant, safe and … Read More
Klippenstein Attends Immigration Panel
Dairy Farmers of America’s vice president of industry and legislative affairs, Jackie Klippenstein, served on the National Council of Farmer Cooperative’s (NCFC) immigration reform panel. The panel, Our Nation’s Immigration System Needs Work: Co-op Perspectives on the Need for Reform, gave attendees an understanding of what immigration reform means for a diverse range of agricultural producers across the country. Joining … Read More
DFA Plant Earns Recognition
The Minnesota Safety Council has awarded a Governor’s Safety Award to Dairy Farmers of America for superior performance in workplace safety and health at the Cooperative’s Zumbrota, Minn. manufacturing plant. DFA received a Meritorious Achievement Award. Since 1934, the annual Governor’s Safety Awards program has honored Minnesota employers with exceptional safety performance. Applicants are judged on several years of injury … Read More
Clovis Cheese Plant to Expand
Dairy Farmers of America owned Southwest Cheese Co. LLC plant in Clovis, N.M. will soon undergo a $100 million expansion. The expansion will allow for more production of curds and whey proteins, which are used in ice cream, processed cheese sauces and sports drinks and energy bars. Southwest Cheese is one of the world’s largest cheese plants and produces thousands … Read More