Dairy Pricing Association affects thousands of Americans

The Dairy Pricing Association (DPA) continues to grow and now has 83 members - dairy farmers who have agreed to pay a portion from each hundredweight of milk into a fund that will be used to purchase dairy products for the needy. Twelve more future members have their paperwork in progress to join the group.

The DPA mission statement is to establish the minimum price the dairy industry receives for its production while at the same time maintaining a level of milk production to meet the needs of the consumer.

Dairy producer-members pay a 10 cents per hundredweight (cwt) monthly assessment that is used to purchase surplus dairy commodities, which are donated to humanitarian relief organizations.

Dairy Pricing Association's increasing growth in membership has allowed for continuing monthly donations to take place. Member's milk from Pennsylvania was processed into one-gallon containers of whole milk and purchased at Dairy Maid Dairy, Inc. of Frederick, MD.

On June 28 the association donated 1,000 gallons of whole milk (8,600 pounds) to Blessings of Hope, of Ephrata, PA. Blessings of Hope is a food distribution network to food banks, ministries, churches, and individuals.

With steady growth, DPA as purchased and donated a total of 135,860 pounds of milk since August 2011 to humanitarian relief organizations. This is 11,000 pounds of cheese distributed to 5,500 households and 4,100 gallons of milk to 4,100 families.

Another DPA donation is scheduled on July 12 to purchase DPA member's milk at Dairy Maid Dairy, Inc. of Frederick, MD. At that time, Blessings of Hope will receive another 1,000 gallons of whole milk.

On May 22 DPA's sixth purchase and donation was at Nasonville Dairy in Marshfield. Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin received 75 40-pound blocks of cheddar cheese or 3,000 pounds equal to 30,000 pounds of milk.

The DPA has members in six states and that involves 18 different milk handlers. This nationwide program is strictly voluntary and has no time limits or contracts.

"This program is not being funded by any processor or marketer," said Robin Berg, DPA president, a Wisconsin dairy farmer himself. "We welcome all dairy producers, no matter what size, or what grade of milk you produce."

To learn more about Dairy Pricing Association go to www.dairypricing.org or 715-284-2590.