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NMPF Exports & Trade (NEXT) is a voluntary, marketing-focused program managed by NMPF and designed to promote the sale of US dairy products to overseas customers and seek a better alignment of supply and demand for milk and milk products at home. Member cooperatives provide the funding for CWT by contributing two cents per hundredweight of milk marketed.
NEXT positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers and cooperatives by fostering the competitiveness of US dairy products in the global marketplace and helping member cooperatives gain and maintain world market share for U.S dairy products. As a result, the program has helped significantly expand the total demand for U.S. dairy products and the demand for U.S. farm milk that produces those products.
Fully participating NEXT member cooperatives marketing eligible products are qualified to apply for assistance from NEXT in supporting export sales to eligible countries.
NEXT supports exports of eligible product to every country except Canada and Mexico in most cases.
NEXT member cooperatives first submit a request for export assistance specifying the product to be exported, the quantity of product, the end customer, the country in which the customer is located and the requested amount of assistance.
NEXT staff analyzes each bid received, considering the market in which the product will be sold, the time of delivery, and global and U.S. product prices. When the level of assistance requested is economically justified, the bid is accepted. If the analysis indicates the assistance requested is not economical, the cooperative is provided a counteroffer with the maximum level of assistance NEXT will provide. The member cooperative then has the option to accept or reject the assistance offered. If the counteroffer is accepted, the bid is modified to reflect the level of assistance NEXT will provide, assigned a reference number, dated and signed by the NEXT program facilitator.
Cooperatives do not receive payment from NEXT until documentation verifying product delivery to the end customer is received by NEXT. NEXT staff reviews the documents thoroughly, as required in the Export Assistance Operating Procedures. If the documentation is found to be in order, a request for payment is submitted. Payment is typically made within 30 days of receiving the request for payment and the necessary supporting paperwork.
NEXT aims to expand sales of U.S. dairy products in world markets, not displace existing sales. If NEXT receives a claim that its assistance has displaced an unassisted export sale of a U.S. dairy product, the claim is thoroughly investigated.
NEXT will provide targeted, additional support beyond primary assistance to level the playing field and drive U.S. export volume growth in key markets around the world where the U.S. is at a tariff disadvantage and/or where the U.S. has the room and ability to gain market share.
This additional support targets certain products in certain countries around the world, but will shift as regional/product objectives are met and/or where more impactful export opportunities present themselves.
The NEXT program helps member cooperatives secure export sales of dairy products and supports member efforts to gain and maintain global market share. As a result, U.S. dairy farmers and their cooperatives benefit from these efforts to increase global demand for U.S. dairy products. The program is funded by voluntary contributions from dairy cooperatives. All dairy cooperatives should consider investing in NEXT.
The NEXT Strategic Advisory Group provides strategic direction for the NEXT, assesses proposals and develops future program enhancements, and authorizes implementation of new ideas brought to the Strategic Advisory Group for consideration. The group is comprised of cooperative staff and farmers to provide greater direction and market expertise to support the overall success of NEXT.
Please contact next@nmpf.org with any questions or for more information about NEXT. Member cooperatives may also request a copy of the bylaws and operating procedures governing the program.
