History of Dairy Promotion

Pre-1970

Local and state promotion organizations conduct local dairy promotion, much of it through voluntary contributions by producers.

1970

United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA) is formed by the merger of National Dairy Council^® (NDC) and American Dairy Association^® (ADA). Following the merger, additional funding from member state and regional organizations was allocated to national programs.

1983

With the help of a dairy producer referendum, Congress enacts The Dairy and Tobacco Adjustment Act (“The Act”), which creates the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB). A subsequent U.S. Department of Agriculture Order (“The Order”) outlines the provisions for operating the national dairy producer checkoff program.

1984

The secretary of agriculture appoints the first NDB; demand-building programs begin.

1993

In a referendum called by the secretary of agriculture, dairy producers vote 71 percent in favor of retaining the dairy checkoff program.

1994

Dairy producer leaders develop a plan to create an organization to coordinate national and local dairy promotion programs.

1995

NDB and UDIA board members create Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI) as the organization responsible for increasing demand for U.S.-produced dairy products on behalf of America’s dairy producers. Direct coordination between national and local dairy promotion programs begins.

DMI forms the U.S. Dairy Export Council^® (USDEC) to leverage investments of processors, exporters, producers and industry suppliers to enhance the U.S. dairy industry’s ability to serve international markets. Checkoff dollars and USDEC membership dues fund the organization.

1998

DMI and the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP) launch a nationally coordinated fluid milk marketing program. Both organizations maintain separate fluid milk marketing budgets and accounting systems, as well as internal controls, processes and accountabilities.

2005

Following a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that confirmed the constitutionality of commodity checkoff programs as “government speech,” the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia affirms the constitutionality of the dairy producer-funded checkoff program, reversing an earlier decision.

2011

The U.S. Department of Agriculture amends the Dairy Promotion and Research Order (Dairy Order) to implement a dairy import assessment program. The program assesses the equivalent of 7.5 cents per hundredweight of milk on imported dairy products and adds two importer members to the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board.