Dairy checkoff programs in Michigan and Florida have announced a new strategic partnership to increase dairy promotions across both states.
United Dairy Industry of Michigan CEO Melissa Gerharter will lead the organizations through the transition.
“The Michigan dairy farmers will not see any impact as far as the programs go, but rather by streamlining some of these back office efficiencies and really leaning into the staffs’ talents, that’s going to put more money back into the market from a dairy promotion standpoint,” she shares.
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She tells Brownfield deficit dairy states where more milk is consumed than produced appeal to the national dairy checkoff for additional promotion opportunities, and Michigan farmers saw it as a way to reach more consumers.
“They have been leading the work in their STEM outreach and we too have had our feet in that space,” she explains. “But they have some learnings that we feel confident we want to pull up into the state of Michigan. It really, truly is a cross-collaboration of all skills and talents.”
Gerharter says UDIM and Florida Dairy Farmers will maintain their local identities as the groups identify synergies moving forward.
At the end of 2023, USDA reported there were 850 dairy farmers licensed in Michigan and 55 in Florida.
