ST. PAUL – The American Dairy Association/Dairy Council (ADA/DC) of Nebraska became part of Midwest Dairy Association as of Jan. 1, 2011. The new status of Nebraska dairy producers took place after a year during which Midwest Dairy provided program and accounting services to the organization. Final votes by the boards of both organizations took place in December.
The merger creates the Nebraska Division of Midwest Dairy, with 10 producer board members who will elect two from their ranks to the Midwest Dairy Corporate Board.
“This is good for Nebraska dairy producers,” said Dwaine Junck of Carroll, Nebraska, who chaired the ADA/DC of Nebraska board and now becomes chairman of the Nebraska Division of Midwest Dairy. “Our dairy farmers will benefit by sharing the cost of resources with farmers from neighboring states, reducing administrative overhead, maintaining three dedicated program staff in Nebraska and gaining the expertise of additional Midwest Dairy staff for increased program impact.”
Junck points out that as a Division of Midwest Dairy, the state will also have a bigger voice at the national level to help ensure programs serve Nebraska dairy producers. The merger will also help the state with its commitment to the national unified dairy promotion plan.
“Midwest Dairy is excited to have Nebraska producers join in our mission to increase sales, foster innovation and inspire consumer confidence in dairy products and practices,” said Jerry Messer, Richardton, N.D., chairman of Midwest Dairy Association. “By working together, we know we can accomplish more.”
The history of Midwest Dairy weaves through nearly 90 years of dairy history. Producers in Iowa, Missouri and eastern Kansas formed Midland Dairy Association in 1971 with headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa, and a program office in Overland Park, Kansas. Their counterparts in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota – all states that produce more milk than they can consume – combined their state promotional organizations in 1993, forming the American Dairy Association/Dairy Council of the Upper Midwest, with headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., and a program office in Brookings, S.D. These two larger organizations joined forces in 2000, forming Midwest Dairy Association and adding dairy producers and consumer territory in Arkansas, western Kansas and eastern Oklahoma. The American Dairy Association of Illinois joined Midwest Dairy a year later.
Today, Midwest Dairy represents more than 11,000 dairy producers, about 20 percent of all U.S. dairy operations. Midwest Dairy programs reach nearly 35 million consumers through marketing, promotion, nutrition education programs and public relations campaigns. Offices are located in St. Paul, Minnesota; Ankeny, Iowa; and Overland Park, Kansas.
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Midwest Dairy Association is a non-profit organization funded by dairy producers to build demand for dairy products through integrated marketing, nutrition education and research. Midwest Dairy is funded by checkoff dollars from dairy farmers in a 10-state region, including Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. For more information, visit www.midwestdairycheckoff.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.
Source: Midwest Dairy Association