The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

As the elected leadership for American Dairy Association North East, and in recognition of June Dairy Month, we are proud of the work dairy checkoff is doing in these challenging economic times to show the positive side of the dairy industry, to build consumer confidence, and to ultimately help sell more milk.

We are leveraging our checkoff dollars differently than we have in the past – so while it may not seem as visible as a television ad or a billboard, our dollars are being spent more efficiently and effectively. The way consumers receive information now is different than in the past, and we are changing our delivery methods to meet that need.

As individual farmers, we know we couldn’t move the amount of milk that we have without the checkoff. Thanks to our research and the relationships forged with national food chains we can see the difference.

For instance, since McDonald’s switched to butter from margarine in 2015, milk use has increased by 700 million pounds per year. Additionally, Domino’s has increased its overall cheese usage by 72 percent since our partnership began in 2008.

On the local level, our youth remain a top priority and our checkoff staff has taken our nutrition messages into nearly 14,000 schools. Knowing that 80 percent of milk sales still happen in the retail market, we work closely with our dairy aisle managers to keep cases clean and well-stocked. We’ve also been featuring local farm families in the dairy displays to let consumers know who’s producing the milk they are buying. You just might see your neighbor’s photos when you’re shopping.

We also take great pride in partnering with Pennsylvania food banks to get milk into the hands of families that need and want it through Fill a Glass with Hope.

Yes, we have daily battles – decreased milk prices, animal activists or negative nutrition messages. But the facts remain, milk and dairy products are wholesome and safe, our animals are treated humanely, and we protect our land and water resources. We also know that speaking with one voice is critical, and we must all be active in telling our story.

Please know that we remain a farmer-funded and farmer-directed organization. We use the guidance of our fellow board members to help make good decisions on behalf of all dairy farmers in the ADA North East region. Please contact any of us or your dairy promotion staff if you have questions about the dairy checkoff.

Richard Byma, Sussex, N.J., Chair
American Dairy Association North East, American Dairy Association and Dairy Council

Vernon Horst, Chambersburg, Pa., Chair
Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association

Jeff Raney, Adamsville, Pa., Chair
Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program

About American Dairy Association North East

American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing nearly 12,000 dairy farm families in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council®. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit www.americandairy.com.