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.

Member cooperatives of Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) accepted 14 offers of export assistance from CWT that helped them secure contracts to sell 1.821 million pounds (1,294 metric tons) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, and 3.097 million pounds (1,405 metric tons) of whole milk powder. The product will be delivered during the period from December 2018 through June 2019.

CWT-assisted sales this year total 69.3 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 17.15 million pounds of butter (82% milkfat) and 41.1 million pounds of whole milk powder. These sales are equivalent to 1.326 billion pounds of milk on a milkfat basis.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively affects all U.S. dairy farmers and dairy cooperatives by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price. It does this by helping member cooperatives gain and maintain world market share for U.S dairy products. As a result, the program has significantly expanded the total demand for U.S. dairy products and farm milk that produces those products.

The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT pays export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product is verified by required documentation.

All dairy farmers and all dairy cooperatives should invest in CWT. Membership information is available on the CWT website.

The Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) Export Assistance program is funded by voluntary contributions from dairy cooperatives and individual dairy farmers. The money raised by their investment is being used to strengthen and stabilize the dairy farmers’ milk prices and margins. For more information about CWT, visit www.cwt.coop.