The dairy checkoff program was started by dairy farmers in 1984 with one purpose — to increase the demand for milk and dairy products— and it’s doing just that!

Today, the average person consumes more than 605 pounds of dairy products on a total solids basis, compared to 522 in 1983.

Between 1983 and 2006, per capita total milk consumption increased more than 16 percent — that’s 83 pounds more dairy per person.

Through the U.S. Dairy Export Council, U.S. dairy producers in 2006 exported 2 billion pounds of milk solids, equaling nearly $1.9 billion.

Dairy Checkoff

Our Purpose     

On behalf of U.S. dairy farmers, drive increased sales of and demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients.

Our Role

Work proactively, and in partnership with leaders and innovators, to increase and apply knowledge that leverages opportunities to expand dairy markets.

Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association

Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association is one of 18 state and regional dairy promotion organizations responsible for increasing the demand for milk and dairy products in the U.S. We represent nearly 7,500 dairy farmers who reside in Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and northern Virginia. The dairy checkoff program is farmer-funded and farmer-directed.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council and the American Dairy Association. We work closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ to extend national dairy promotion programs locally. We also provide program support and resources for the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program (PDPP).

Dairy farmers across the country contribute 15 cents per hundredweight (100 pounds of milk) they produce to fund the national dairy checkoff program. This contribution supports retail and foodservice promotions, school marketing programs, product ingredient and nutrition research, and industry image and relations programs that help build demand for milk and dairy products.

The checkoff program is supported by more than 59,000 dairy farmers nationwide. Of these farmers, more than 300 serve on local, regional and national boards that help direct and oversee dairy checkoff programs.

To learn more about the national dairy checkoff program, visit www.dairycheckoff.com.

Our Board

Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association’s board of directors consists of dairy farmers appointed by local dairy cooperatives and independent milk handlers. The board members are responsible for ensuring that dairy promotion programs are efficient and cost-effective — making the best use of dairy farmers’ investment in the checkoff program.

Fifteen dairy farmers currently serve on the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association board of directors. Twenty-one dairy farmers serve on the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program board of directors.