Press Releases

Checkoff-Funded Export Efforts Help Find Home for New Milk Production

PHILADELPHIA (May 15, 2007) – Through their checkoff investment in the U.S. Dairy Export Council® (USDEC), Dairy producers are helping to find a home for new milk production by selling to dairy customers around the world. Recent export data shows that in 2006 nearly one of every two pounds of new milk production on a total solids basis was sold internationally.

Last year, U.S. dairy producers exported 2 billion pounds of milk solids, or 9.3 percent of total milk solids production, a full percentage point increase from 2005. Thanks in part to USDEC’s marketing efforts and the commitment of U.S. dairy suppliers, the rapidly growing export market helps clear the domestic market of excess milk solids, resulting in tighter markets and firmer prices. These efforts include producer-funded market development and expansion programs, and market access and technical services to drive dairy sales around the world.

“Maintaining and building dairy exports helps our industry grow,” said Gordon Hoover, a Pennsylvania dairy producer and chairman of Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. “With annual domestic milk production increases over the past five years, and with continued efficiencies among dairy producers and co-ops, we need new markets to find a home for new milk production.”

In 2006, U.S. dairy cows produced an additional 605 million pounds of milk solids, nearly half of which was shipped to international customers. Without foreign customers, those excess milk solids would become a burden on the domestic market. Dairy producers’ checkoff investment in USDEC has helped double the value of U.S. exports — from $982 million in 1995 to today’s export value of $1.89 billion.

Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association is the local dairy-farmer funded regional promotion organization responsible for increasing milk and dairy product demand throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy promotion organization, to implement dairy promotion, education and research programs locally. For more information, visit www.dairyspot.com.