NMPF is proud to welcome as its newest member, Lanco-Pennland, a dairy co-op based in Hagerstown, MD.
Lanco-Pennland represents 300 farms in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Virginia. It produces premium dairy products including whole milk mozzarella, white cheddar and Gouda, building long-term value for their farms and communities. The co-op owns a plant in Hancock, MD, producing cheese under the brand Pennland Pure. All NMPF member co-ops are listed here.
NMPF members approved a new initiative to boost dairy exports and welcomed a new cooperative as well as new farmer-leaders into the fold at the National Milk Producers Federation’s Board of Directors meeting June 10-11.
NMPF’s board meeting brought together more than 100 farmers and dairy-cooperative leaders at the nation’s largest dairy farmer trade organization, which serves as the policy voice for milk producers and the cooperatives they own in Washington.
“If you imagine that on top of that the millions of people who buy something we touch every day with the products, the nutritious products that we produce, not just at dinner, not just at breakfast, but all day long, because of what you can turn dairy into, it’s a pretty amazing story, really,” said NMPF Board Chairman Randy Mooney, a farmer from Rogersville, MO, in remarks at the meeting. “We put some of the most nourishing products there are into consumers every day, globally, and that’s something that I think we can all be proud of.”
The board also voted to implement a new member-funded export assistance program called NEXT , starting today. NEXT, which stands for NMPF EXport and Trade, is the successor to the Cooperatives Working Together program.
A majority of the milk produced by NMPF members supports the NEXT program, with a 2 cent/cwt contribution through 2028. The NEXT program focuses on supporting U.S. dairy exports in key markets around the world to help drive global demand for U.S. dairy products and support U.S. dairy prices.
Two new directors and one new cooperative member also were approved. Joining as new board members are:
NMPF also approved a new co-op member, Lanco-Pennland Cooperative, based in Hagerstown, MD. Lanco-Pennland produces roughly 400 million pounds of milk annually and is a leading East Coast milk marketer.
The meeting also featured remarks from Reps. Dusty Johnson, R-SD, David Valadao, R-CA, and Tony Wied, R-WI.
The meeting was held in conjunction with the Young Cooperators (YC) Dairy Policy and Legislative Forum, which brought together young dairy leaders from 15 states for two days of education and advocacy on Capitol Hill. YCs discussed key dairy priorities directly with members of Congress and staffs to advocate for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, agricultural labor reform and strong dairy trade policies.
Also in conjunction with the meeting, The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program opened nominations for its annual FARM Excellence Awards, which recognizes farmers, cooperatives and processors that provide consumers with safe, wholesome milk with integrity. Nominations may be submitted via an online form until Aug. 4.
Buffalo, MN dairy farmer Charles Krause, a family farm-owner of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), was named the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) first-ever Farmer Communicator of the Year at the organization’s annual gathering of dairy-cooperative communicators. Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) earned top overall communications honors among NMPF member co-ops.
Krause milks around 300 cows with his son, Andrew, on the fifth-generation dairy farm. He was recognized for both his promotion of dairy before the broader public as well as his willingness to be involved in crucial public-policy issues before the industry.
“From teaching the basics of dairy farming to kids in a local classroom, at his farm or even virtually, to authoring a column regarding the importance of dairy dialogue at the UN Food Systems summit to inviting his local Congressman to spend time at his farm, Charles is an unwavering spokesperson on behalf of his own farm, as well as the entire industry,” DFA wrote in its nominating letter.
AMPI was recognized for its numerous first-place awards in NMPF’s annual communications contest, highlighted by its “Best in Show” recognition for its Dairyman’s Digest magazine, led by Sarah Schmidt and Nickie Sabo in the contest’s publication category.
“Great job staying focused on your mission and keeping member information as the focus,” read the judge’s comments in response to AMPI’s prize-winning entry. “From beginning to end I would feel proud to be an AMPI member from the info highlighted in the member publication.”
Krause and AMPI will also be recognized at NMPF’s annual meeting in Las Vegas later this month. A full list of the winners of the NMPF communications contest, which received entries from 12 member cooperatives, can be found here.
