NOVI, Mich. — Twelve MMPA members were awarded National Dairy Quality Awards, including 50 percent of all gold awards. These MMPA members were among 44 nationally recognized farms in the annual award program. One platinum award, nine gold awards and two silver awards were earned by MMPA members.
“Our member-owners do their best each day to produce the highest quality milk possible,” Joe Diglio, MMPA General Manager said. “The 12 farms presented with a National Dairy Quality Award demonstrates the superior quality of our members’ milk and each farm’s dedication and commitment to excellence. We are proud to see their accomplishments recognized on a national level.”
MMPA offers a portfolio of member services to help members produce the highest quality milk possible, with field representatives working closely with each member to achieve quality goals. MMPA also offers a quality premium incentive for its members producing higher quality milk. Over the last five years, quality premium payments rose 37 percent.
MMPA’s large representation in the National Dairy Quality Awards underscores the hard work of the cooperative’s farms while competing against other well-preforming farmers across the country.
“The vast majority of dairy farmers produce high-quality milk. But, as with most endeavors, there’s ‘good’ and then there’s ‘great,’” wrote Corey Geiger, managing editor of Hoard’s Dairyman in an article about the award program. “It’s those ‘great’ herds that recently were recognized by the National Mastitis Council (NMC) through its National Dairy Quality Awards program.”
The winners were selected from a pool of applicants nationwide. The winning operations stood out for having produced high-quality milk consistently. Applications were evaluated for measures of quality, systems of monitoring udder health, milking routine, protocols for detection and treatment of clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis and strategies for overall herd health and welfare. MMPA winners were nominated by their member representatives.
The Platinum Quality Award winners were honored today during the National Mastitis Council annual meeting in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
The following MMPA members received awards.
Platinum Award
- Larry, Therese, Brent and Emily Simon, Westphalia, Michigan
Gold Awards
- Don Beattie, Holton, Michigan
- Harold and Ruth Ann Dodd, Falmouth, Michigan
- Randy and Cindy Dragt, Howard City, Michigan
- Brad and Debbie Kartes, West Branch, Michigan
- Ryan Litwiller, Middleton, Michigan
- William and Kimberly Pirman, Skandia, Michigan
- Robert and Mark Rau, West Branch, Michigan
- Ken and Duane VanPolen, Marion, Michigan
- Doug, Jake and Andrew Wirth, Evart, Michigan
Silver Awards
- Michael Bosscher, McBain, Michigan
- Rod, Lynn, Chris Daniels, Luke and Audrey Bischoff, Whittemore, Michigan
MMPA is a member owned and controlled dairy cooperative and dairy processor serving approximately 2,000 dairy farmers in Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana.
— Michigan Milk Producers Association
For more news from Michigan, click here.
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Vermont cheese and butter makers won a total of 40 awards, including multiple firsts, at the American Cheese Society Awards. Congratulations: JASPER HILL FARMS CABOT CREAMERY COOPERATIVE VERMONT CREAMERY MAPLEBROOK FARM GRAFTON VILLAGE CHEESE COMPANY SPRING BROOK FARM SAGE FARM GOAT DAIRY In addition to the ACS awards, both Jasper Hill Farms and Vermont […]
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The focus of much of my current research program is to develop evidence-based guidelines that help farmers and their veterinarians understand when antibiotic usage is both cost effective and beneficial to the animals. Using antibiotics in this manner is called “Antibiotic Stewardship” and adopting principles of antibiotic stewardship on dairy farms can […]
LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) delegates gathered in Lansing, Mich., on March 24 to conduct official business during MMPA’s 106th Annual Delegate Meeting. Over 200 attendees, including members and employees, heard from MMPA leadership and industry partners on how MMPA is taking charge of change, this year’s meeting theme. MMPA board chairman Doug Chapin reflected […]
NOVI, Mich. — The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA), based in Novi, Mich., on Dec. 6 announced it will acquire Superior Dairy in Canton, Ohio, a subsidiary of LEL Operating Company. Under the terms of the acquisition, all of LEL Operating Company’s subsidiaries, Superior Dairy, Inc., Creative Edge Design Group, Ltd., and LEL Logistics, Inc., […]
EAST LANSING, Mich. — As Michigan’s dairy farmers adjusted to numerous challenges brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Michigan State University (MSU) dairy team set in motion a series of programs and outreach efforts to ensure the state’s dairy producers had the tools needed to survive and thrive over the past year. “In […]
