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Dairy farmers across the country contribute 15 cents per hundredweight (cwt) of milk they produce to the dairy checkoff programs to build dairy product demand. This contribution supports marketing, advertising, product research, development, ingredient development, nutrition research, and education programs that build demand for dairy products.

Statistics show that the checkoff program is working!

Per capita, dairy consumption has grown 11% since 1984 when the checkoff program was first instituted.

How are we funded in Maine?

The Maine Dairy Promotion Board is funded through the USDA authorized bovine dairy checkoff assessment and Maine statutes. The dairy checkoff assessment is 15 cents on every hundredweight of milk produced. In Maine, 10 cents of the 15 cents dairy assessment goes to the Maine Dairy Promotion Board.

The other 5 cents go directly to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board in Chicago. The Maine Dairy Promotion Board transfers 2 of the 10 cents to the Maine Dairy & Nutrition Council. Maine Dairy & Nutrition Council also receives one and a half cents per cwt. from dealers or producer/dealers for milk purchased or processed in Maine, or purchased out of state and sold in Maine.

How are we organized?

Both the Maine Dairy Promotion Board and the Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council are USDA qualified programs. Our programs are members of the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA), an umbrella organization and federation of 18 active qualified dairy checkoff programs. NDB funds UDIA’s research and development.

Together, UDIA and NDB created and fund Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) through checkoff monies and dues. Dairy Management, Inc. is responsible for developing the Unified Marketing Plan, programs and materials, and partnerships with leaders in the food industry.

Dairy Management, Inc. also manages the Dairy Research Institute, Innovation Center for US Dairy, National Dairy Council, and USDEC. Maine Dairy Promotion Board and Maine Dairy & Nutrition Council are responsible for implementing the Unified Marketing Plan within the state of Maine.

What People Have to Say

Maine Dairy and Nutrition Council works with schools across the state, offering grants each year for needed school nutrition equipment.

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