2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE
“Idaho dairy farms currently
support 23,000 jobs, which makes
the dairy industry one of the
largest economic drivers in Idaho.”
Since 1944, the Idaho Dairymen’s Association (IDA) has worked tirelessly to develop and sustain the Idaho dairy industry, while
protecting and promoting the health and welfare of the public.
We have seen remarkable growth in our industry, which is currently producing more than 13.8 billion pounds of milk per year and
sustaining more than 560,000 dairy cows. We are wholly committed to the growth of Idaho’s dairy industry, and to the continued
success of our dairy farmers, families and workers.
Idaho dairy farms currently support 23,000 jobs, which makes the dairy industry one of the largest economic drivers in Idaho.
As such, the IDA shoulders the responsibility of ensuring the continued growth of Idaho dairy and the thousands of jobs that it
supports.
With so many jobs and such an impact on Idaho’s economy, the Idaho dairy industry is seeing growth trends well beyond the
national dairy industry. As you’ll see in the following pages, Idaho dairy is well above the national average for growth.
As we continue to see changes in the global dairy market, Idaho will continue to pride itself on quality, freshness and reliability. The
evidence of Idaho’s dairy quality is undisputable, as shown by the recent building of the world’s largest yogurt manufacturing plant in
our state.
As we have since our creation, the IDA will continue to advance the interests of Idaho’s dairies. We will pursue legislation and
support causes that promote the quality and sustainability of our industry. I am looking forward to yet another year of being part of
the best dairymen’s association in the world, bar none!
TONY VANDERHULST
President, Idaho Dairymen’s Association
2 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
What’s Inside
Leadership.................................................4
Our History................................................5
Idaho’s Dairy Landscape...........................6
Environmental Sustainability...................10
Social Responsibility................................12
Research.................................................13
Public Policy............................................14
Idaho State Department
of Agriculture Dairy Bureau.....................16
Dairy Management
Certificate Program..................................17
Idaho’s Dairy Processors.........................18
Idaho’s Dairy Cooperatives.....................22
Associate Members.................................23
The Idaho dairy industry is significant. As the third largest dairy producer in the country,
Idaho’s dairy products and by-products are popular with food manufacturers and consumers.
In response to changes in the industry, IDA continues to endorse and promote legislation that
benefits and keeps the best interests of the dairies and their employees in mind.
The Idaho dairy families and workers are the heart of this industry. I am moved by the
overwhelming commitment of the dairy families and workers across the state. Their unwavering
support allows us to produce quality products and, in-turn, grow revenues and enhance the local and regional economies.
As the focus in Washington D.C. turns toward immigration reform, IDA is watching closely to ensure the best interests
of our dedicated dairy workers and our state are a priority for policymakers. I am grateful to our local, state and federal
elected leaders who work tirelessly to protect and promote our dairy families.
The Idaho dairy industry consistently ranks higher in revenues that any other agriculture commodities produced in Idaho.
From our farms to the tables of people all around the world, Idaho will continue to provide consumers with the highest
quality milk and dairy products. We are proud of our global reach and will continue to strive to export our goods into
markets far outside of Idaho.
BOB NAEREBOUT
Executive Director, Idaho Dairymen’s Association
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 3
Leadership
There are 18 dairy producers elected to the UDI Board of Directors. Of those, 9 are elected to the IDA Board, with the
remaining 9 serving on the Idaho Dairy Products Commission.
Elected Board Members of United Dairymen of Idaho
TONY VANDERHULST
Wendell, Idaho
President, IDA
Co-Chair, UDI
TOM DORSEY
Caldwell, Idaho
Chairman, IDPC
Co-Chair, UDI
MIKE SIEGERSMA
Nampa, Idaho
Vice Chair, IDPC
ADRIAN KROES
Nampa, Idaho
Vice President, IDA
PETE WIERSMA
Buhl, Idaho
Secretary/Treasurer, IDA
GREG ANDERSON
American Falls, Idaho
IDA Board Member
ALLAN SWAINSTON
Preston, Idaho
IDA Board Member
KIM KORN
Terreton, Idaho
IDPC Board Member
WILLIE BOKMA
Twin Falls, Idaho
IDA Board Member
STEVE BALLARD
Gooding, Idaho
IDPC Board Member
BERNIE TEUNISSEN
Nampa, Idaho
IDPC Board Member
TONY DEWIT
Wendell, Idaho
IDA Board Member
JOHN BRUBAKER
Buhl, Idaho
IDPC Board Member
DAVE VEENHOUWER
Jerome, Idaho
IDPC Board Member
DON HEIDA
Kuna, Idaho
IDA Board Member
BRIAN ESPLIN
Shelley, Idaho
IDPC Board Member
ARIE ROELOFFS
Wendell, Idaho
IDA Board Member
DAN GILBERT
Blackfoot, Idaho
IDPC Board Member
Elected Resolution Committee Members
Current IDEAL Board of Managers
WINFIELD ANDERSON
Blackfoot, Idaho
MIKE LOVELAND
St. Anthony, Idaho LYNN KEETCH
Montpelier, Idaho
LOU MURGOITIO
Boise, Idaho
JOE DEMELLO
Jerome, Idaho
ALAN REED
Idaho Falls, Idaho
KIM KORN
Terreton, Idaho
ARIE ROELOFFS
Wendell, Idaho
RUDI DEWINKLE
Melba, Idaho
EDWIN SOUTHFIELD
Wendell, Idaho
ADRIAN KROES
Nampa, Idaho DON TABER
Shoshone, Idaho
4 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Our History
Milestones
1944
Idaho Dairymen’s
Association created
1950
1984
2003
2008
The National Dairy Production
Stabilization Act assessed producers
$0.15/ cwt on all milk produced
for dairy product promotion
Independent Dairy Environmental Action
League (IDEAL) LLC. IDEAL LLC was
formed to serve as a legal defense fund
and as an environmental research fund.
IDEAL Research
Foundation* is formed
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
1980
1987
2004
United Dairymen of Idaho
created. UDI is a collection
of IDA and the Idaho Dairy
Products Commission.
IDA assessment
established at $0.005/cwt
IDA assessment raised to
$0.01/cwt. $0.005/cwt goes
toward IDEAL LLC
History of the IDA
On July 5, 1944, Idaho’s dairy industry
leaders met to form the Idaho Dairymen’s
Association (IDA) to develop and sustain an
economically viable Idaho dairy industry. In
those early days, IDA was funded through
voluntary assessments from its processor and
producer members.
2010
United Dairymen of Idaho (UDI): The Federation’s
mission, solely through its two (2) member
organizations, is to provide Idaho’s dairy farm
families with a prosperous Idaho dairy industry
and augment demand for Idaho-produced dairy
products through coordinated marketing, dairy
image, nutrition education and research programs.
Today, the IDA falls under the umbrella of
the United Dairymen of Idaho (UDI), which was formed in 1980 as a single entity that contains two separate organizations –
IDA and the Idaho Dairy Products Commission (IDPC). Each organization serves a different purpose under the auspices of the
UDI – IDA deals with industry and government relations projects, while IDPC focuses on promotion and marketing projects.
In 2003, the Idaho Dairy Environmental Action League (IDEAL) LLC was formed, followed by the creation of the IDEAL
Foundation in 2008. The IDA teamed with the IDEAL LLC and IDEAL Foundation to assist the Idaho dairy industry and our
broader communities realize the many social and economic benefits of successful livestock operations, while working to protect
and enhance important air, water and soil resources.
Today, the Idaho Dairymen’s Association works tirelessly at the local, state, regional and federal levels to protect and promote the
legislative, regulatory and legal interests of its members.
*The purpose of the Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is to raise money to support the development of the University of Idaho National Center
for Livestock Environmental Studies.
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 5
Idaho’s Dairy Landscape
Idaho Dairy Operations by Size
Numbers provided by ISDA - February 2015
No. Dairy
Operations
Percentage
of Operations
No. Cows
140
27.2%
< 200
94
18.3%
201 - 500
101
19.6%
501 - 1,000
82
16.0%
1,001 - 2,000
97
18.9%
2,001 +
= 200 cows
+
TOTAL DAIRY OPERATIONS: 514
MILK COWS IN IDAHO: 561,577
Idaho Milk Production
Numbers provided by IDPC
12.12
12.75
billion lbs.
billion lbs.
1.30%
5.11%
2009
2010
6 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
13.23
billion lbs.
3.75%
2011
13.53
billion lbs.
2.30%
2012
13.40
billion lbs.
0.94%
2013
13.84
billion lbs.
3.32%
2014
The Dairy Industry and the Economy
Numbers provided by University of Idaho, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS),
Department of Agriculture Economics and Rural Sociology
#
3
Idaho’s milk producers have gone from an average
milk production state in the 1980s to the third largest
milk production state in the nation
In 2012, the dairy industry supported
the Idaho economy with:
23,000 JOBS
+
For every existing job in the
dairy industry, there are 2.2 total
jobs in the Idaho economy that
depend on that dairy job.
$2.5 BILLION
For every new dairy sector job
created in the Idaho economy to
produce new products to sell to the
outside world, a total of 6 jobs are
supported in the Idaho economy.
$2.2 BILLION
Generated by dairy industry in domestic and
foreign exports (sales outside of the state)
which represents new dollars injected into the
state’s economy in 2012
Contributed by the dairy industry to Idaho’s
gross domestic product
IDAHO RECEIVED
$6.6 BILLION
ECONOMIC OUTPUT
THE
IN SALES FROM
DAIRY INDUSTRY
IN 2012
$$$
30%
THE DAIRY
INDUSTRY
REPRESENTS
30% OF THE
AGRICULTURAL
SECTOR IN
IDAHO
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 7
Idaho’s Dairy Landscape
Idaho Dairy Producers
February 2015
TREASURE VALLEY
DAIRIES
COWS
94
118,731
18.3%
21.1%
AVERAGE COWS / DAIRY
1,263
EASTERN IDAHO
DAIRIES
COWS
117
35,348
22.8%
AVERAGE COWS / DAIRY
302
MAGIC VALLEY
DAIRIES
COWS
303
407,498
58.9%
72.6%
AVERAGE COWS / DAIRY
1,345
8 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
6.3%
Idaho Dairy Processors
TREASURE VALLEY
Sorrento Lactalis, Nampa
Darigold, Caldwell
Darigold, Boise
MeadowGold, Boise
Marathon Cheese, Mountain Home
MAGIC VALLEY
EASTERN IDAHO
Glanbia Foods, Richfield
Reed’s Dairy, Idaho Falls
Glanbia Foods, Gooding
Glanbia Foods, Twin Falls
Jerome Cheese, Jerome
Glanbia Blackfoot Cheese Division,
Blackfoot
Nelson Ricks Cheese, Rexburg
Darigold, Jerome
Idaho Milk Products, Jerome
Cloverleaf Creamery, Buhl
Chobani, Twin Falls
Gossner Foods, Heyburn
High Desert Milk, Burley
Brewster Cheese, Rupert
Stoker Wholesale, Burley
Commercial Creamery, Jerome
Ballard Cheese, Gooding
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 9
Environmental Sustainability
Dairy farmers have a long heritage as responsible stewards of the land, air, water and the animals in their care.
This innate appreciation for the environment has helped propel the industry’s long-term success and establish
unprecedented, industry-wide collaborations on sustainability.
Environmental Sustainability is not new to
the Idaho dairy industry.
In 1995, the Idaho dairy industry
pioneered a partnership in the form
of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) between the Idaho Dairymen’s
Association, the Idaho State Department
Agriculture (ISDA), the Idaho Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the
US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA). The MOU was so unique at the
time that it received national recognition
for Innovative Government from Harvard
University.
The objective of the MOU was to protect
the ground and surface waters in Idaho
by developing a working arrangement
between the regulatory
agencies and the
industry. The MOU
defined the roles of the
agencies in providing
regulatory oversight of
the dairy industry.
Sustainability is: Providing
consumers with the
nutritious dairy products
they want, in a way that
makes the industry, people
and the earth economically,
environmentally and
socially better- now and for
future generations.
The MOU has been
amended periodically
to meet the changing
needs of a rapidly
growing dairy industry to assure that the
environment is property protected. The
MOU was renewed annually until 2009,
when the EPA determined, for reasons
not clearly defined, that they would no
longer participate. EPA’s absence has not
detracted from the very important goals
of the industry or from
efforts to protect the
environment.
Idaho Code governs
all aspects of the Idaho
dairy industry. ISDA
rules govern dairy
nutrients management
covering all Idaho dairy
operations, regardless
of size. Since 2006,
Idaho has also led the nation in reducing
ammonia emissions. To great success, and
like the water quality MOU, a coalition of
agencies and organizations was created
to provide governance of the Ammonia
Rules.
IDEAL Foundation
Independent Dairy Environmental Action League Foundation
The goal of the IDEAL Foundation is to support scientific activities and results that
validate current best management practices while generating new methods for the
livestock industry. IDEAL achieves that goal by:
– Raising financial support for the Idaho National Center for Livestock
Environmental Studies (INCLES) in partnership with the University of Idaho and
the College of Southern Idaho
10 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
– Focusing on environmental
and economic sustainability in
the livestock industry, with a
major emphasis on dairy
INCLES Leading Donors
– Investing in research and
innovation that have the
potential to protect and
improve the environment
Elanco: $1 Million
Innovation in research at INCLES is made
possible by the generous donations of some of
Idaho’s finest allied industries.
Farm Credit: $250,000
Idaho Dairy Producers: $570,000
Continuing with a proactive
environmental conviction, the Idaho
Dairymen’s Association entered another
MOU in 2012 with the Idaho Department
of Environmental Quality to develop a
strong, long-term working relationship
between the two organizations.
The Idaho Dairymen’s Association remains
committed to its legacy of environmental
sustainability and will continue to seek
innovative opportunities to protect our
natural resources.
The US Dairy Sustainability Council
Today, the world’s population growth
is putting further pressure on finite
resources, along with other growing
environmental concerns. Through the
US Dairy Sustainability Council, dairy
farmers, dairy processors, scientists,
suppliers, academics, retailers and
businesses are working together to provide
products that are nutritious, produced
and sourced responsibly and economically
viable for all.
The US Dairy Sustainability Council
is comprised of 82 companies, 113
professionals leading over 800 industry
members and contributing more than $6
million in volunteer hours.
Regulatory Inspections for Quality
The dairy industry is highly regulated. Idaho’s dairies are committed to working
with regulators and inspectors to ensure the highest quality, freshest, most
wholesome products for processors, producers and consumers. In 2012, the Idaho
State Department of Agriculture made the following dairy inspections:
– 6,157 sanitation inspections
– 1,554 environmental (nutrient) inspections
– 86 ammonia air quality inspections
– 278 nutrient management reviews, approvals, verifications and CAFO
site evaluations
– 13 nutrient regulatory letters issued
*542 total dairies and 572,576 total milk cows in Idaho
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 11
Social Responsibility
what their nationality. Immigration reform
has thus become an important priority.
IDA works closely with other partners to
pursue reasonable immigration reform:
– Idaho Business Coalition for
Immigration Reform
– Agriculture Coalition for Immigration
Reform
The Idaho Dairymen’s Association is committed to enhancing Idaho’s workforce – National Immigration Forum
through training, development and economic sustainability. To that end, IDA
– National Milk Producers Federation’s
works hard to establish educational opportunities for Idahoans, dairy families
Immigration Task Force
and agricultural workers.
Doing nothing limits our nation’s
Educating Idahoans
Doing Well by Doing Good for Idaho’s economic potential, causes the labor force
to live with threats of separation from
(Education initiatives supported by
Immigrant Workers
families and deprives many in production
the Idaho Dairymen’s Association)
The Idaho Dairymen’s Association believes agriculture a steady work force.
that one of its most impactful social
– Bovine Veterinarian Experience
initiatives revolves around promoting and IDA will continue to work to develop
Program/ Univ. of Idaho
functional immigration legislation that
protecting our state’s talented and hardaddresses secure borders, allows are
– Dairy Science Education Program/
working employees. Some of the most
current labor force to remain in the US
Univ. of Idaho
reliable dairy labor is foreign born, yet
legally, provides for earned citizenship
individuals who make up that population
– Dairy Extension/ Univ. of Idaho
and is flexible in addressing future foreign
help our dairy industry succeed in the
born labor needs.
– Idaho FFA & 4-H
global market every day.
– Employee Training Programs/ College
of So. Idaho & Univ. of Idaho
– Immigration Community Impact
– Foreign Born Labor Contributions
– Continuing Education Scholarships
While immigration reform is often seen
as a political issue, the Idaho Dairymen’s
Association sees it as a moral and business
matter. IDA believes that it has a moral
obligation to protect and promote our
hard working dairy workers, no matter
Scholarship Programs
The United Dairymen of Idaho distributes more than $25,000 in scholarships annually to family members of Idaho’s dairy
producers to pursue additional educational opportunities.
The Dr. Bill & Charlotte Stouder Memorial Scholarship memorializes two of Idaho’s most committed dairy advocates, who
passionately served the industry, their communities and their churches.
12 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Research
Areas of Research Supported by the Idaho Dairymen’s Association in 2014:
Research Title
Project Award
*Provided by Idaho Dairymen’s Association
“Do alterations in retinoid metabolism
affect mammary gland health during
the periparturient period”
$99,000 (over two years)
Development of emission factors from
manure storage and enhancement of
process based models to determine
whole farm emissions
$86,400
“Identify and reduce nitrate
concentration in the East Snake River
Plain Aquifer”
$71,250
“The Contribution of the Dairy
Industry to the Idaho Economy”
$40,000
“Dairy Science Learning Experience”
$25,000
“Idaho Bovine Veterinary Experience
Program”
$25,000
“Long-Term Impacts of Manure
Applications”
$20,000
“Producing Commercial Bio Plastics
from Fermented Dairy Manure”
$15,000
College of Southern Idaho: Develop
and implement certified training
programs for dairy employees
$10,000
“Magic Valley Extension Education”
$5,000
“Treasure Valley Extension Education”
$5,000
“Eastern Idaho Extension Education”
$5,000
*Contributions also being made by Elanco
Proposed Idaho National Center
for Livestock Environmental
Studies (INCLES)
– Research & educational facility,
which will be located in South
Central Idaho
– A 1,500 milking cow functional
dairy and pens for 600 head feed
lot located on a 1,000+ acre farm
– Educational and scientific
institution for dairy and livestock
research and environmental
sustainability
– Research and education of the
integration of crops and livestock
on a large scale
From 2007-2013, IDA and IDEAL awarded combined grants of $1,479,615
for research. During that same time, IDA also supported multiple educational
programs with donations totaling $385,538.
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 13
Public Policy
The Idaho Dairymen’s Association recognizes milk and dairy products to be some of the finest foods available for
human consumption and therefore supports quality production of our dairy products. We prioritize our role in the market
by influencing public policy to encourage increased dairy production and consumption.
Immigration Reform
IDA recognizes the need for a competent
and stable supply of labor on the dairy
farms of Idaho and, therefore, supports
programs to meet these needs.
The Idaho Dairymen’s Association
has long supported smart, responsible
immigration reform. IDA seeks to address
economic and national security issues
often at the center of immigration debates.
Specifically, IDA supports:
The people who make up foreign born
– An affordable, efficient guest worker
labor in America are hard working,
program that ensures continued
family-oriented individuals. They are
availability of immigrant labor for all
assets to our communities and critical
agriculture, including dairy
resources for the success of our agriculture
– A provision that allows immigrants
production.
currently employed or with recent
Costs associated with deportation not
employment history in the US to earn
only negatively affect our federal budget,
the right to work legally, without having
they also impact our local communities
to go back to their country of origin
by breaking up families, reducing the
– A provision that specifies that the
available workforce and raising the cost
responsibility for ultimate verification
of goods.
of the legal status of a worker lies with
the government, not employers
14 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Promotion & Nutrition Education
IDA supports the Idaho Dairy Products
Commission (IDPC), a state agency
that acts as the promotion and nutrition
education organization for the dairy
industry. IDPC works to drive market
demand, increase consumption and
enhance sales of Idaho’s dairy products.
Somatic Cell Count
Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is a quality
indicator of milk. IDA worked with the
Idaho State Department of Agriculture
(ISDA) Dairy Division to allow for the
lowering of state levels of SCC to 400,000,
which is an industry-acknowledged
standard. IDA will also work with the
National Conference of Interstate Milk
Shippers to set a similar standard at the
national level from the current national
standard of 750,000 SCC.
Air Quality Standards
IDA believes that air quality is a valid
concern and is essential for everyone’s
quality of life. Idaho’s dairymen believe
that any established State or Federal air
quality standards be based on scientific
studies that can be replicated, conducted
regionally, and considerate of climate
conditions. Regulations must be applied to
all of production agriculture equally.
Equal Standards For Nutrient
Management
IDA supports equal regulation of nutrient
management usage. All parties that utilize
commercial fertilizer, plant waste material
and manure shall meet the same nutrient
management standards.
Phosphorous Regulation
Idaho’s dairymen believe that
consideration must be given to all
naturally occurring phosphorous in
the soil in the area adjacent to a dairy
operation before threshold standards
are established. IDA supports a positive
testing regime that includes more than
one regulatory test and the development
of reasonable phosphorous testing and
management protocols.
Animal Care And Welfare Policy
IDA recognizes that an integral part of
good animal husbandry practices includes
comfort and sanitation, which will
benefit both producers and consumers.
These practices improve efficiency and
profitability for the producer and provide
a healthy, wholesome product to the
consumer at a reasonable price.
Dairy Research Programs
– Permanent animal identification to
establish rightful ownership, avoid theft
and to trace and recognize diseased
and/ or contaminated animals
Dairy Research Facility
IDA supports dairy research that adds
value to all Idaho dairy producers and
believes that research should be visionary
IDA supports management practices on
in its scope to meet the future needs of
Idaho’s dairy operations that promote
the Idaho dairy industry with funding of
health, reduce stress and protect the
those programs to be the responsibility
animal from unnecessary injury and pain. of the state, the industry and ally
Idaho’s dairymen support:
industries. As a partner in building the
new Idaho National Center for Livestock
– Good husbandry practices that improve
Environmental Studies (INCLES),
production efficiency
IDA will be serve an important role in
– Prudent and humane use of animals
understanding the livestock industry’s
for food, clothing, enjoyment and
impact on the environment while
biomedical research
researching and demonstrating control
technologies that will be affordable and
– Human transportation and handling of
efficient.
animals
To further IDA’s animal care and welfare
policy priorities, the organization
endorses the National Milk Producers
Federation Farmers Assuring Responsible
Management (FARM) Animal Care
Manual.
IDA supports a dairy research facility
between private industry, the public and
education entities. The facility would be
dedicated to both education and research
with adequate animal numbers to reflect
the dairy industry today and in the future.
The facility should be located where the
dairy industry is prominent.
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 15
Idaho State Department
of Agriculture Dairy Bureau
The Dairy Bureau provides oversight of the dairy industry in Idaho to ensure its consumers have access to safe and
wholesome milk, milk products, shell egg and poultry products.
Bureau programs
encompass sanitary
inspections of
dairy farms, bulk
milk haulers,
processors, manufacturing and processing
equipment, warehouses, stores and
other businesses where milk and dairy
products are manufactured, stored, sold
or offered for sale. Its other duties include
inspecting establishments where shell
eggs are packaged, stored or offered for
sale. The program also includes finished
16 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
dairy product testing for compliance with
state and national standards and an FDA
approved laboratory certification program
for industry and private laboratories.
ISDA is also responsible for the protection
of surface and groundwater from dairy
farm nutrient by-products, which is
accomplished through routine inspections
of dairy farm facilities, land application
sites, and review and approval of new or
modified systems.
Beyond its reinforcement of state
requirements, ISDA works in conjunction
with several state and federal agencies
through cooperative agreements or
memoranda of agreement to protect the
environment and ensure food product
safety. For more information on the Idaho
State Department of Agriculture, contact
Dairy Division Director Marv Patten at
208-332-8550.
Dairy Management Certificate Program
The Idaho Dairymen’s Association assists in funding and actively participates in a collaborative effort between the
University of Idaho Extension Dairy Team and the College of Southern Idaho to develop employee certification programs
in different areas of dairy management.
The certification program will be offered
in different modules to meet the needs
of dairy herd workers and managers
who are interested in expanding their
technical knowledge. The modules will
have a practical orientation and focus on
the knowledge and skills required to be
successful on a dairy as a herdsman or a
dairy employee. The University of Idaho
Extension Dairy Team will be providing
the technical instruction for the program.
Workers who complete each of the
training modules will earn certificates of
completion and may earn credits at the
College of Southern Idaho, which can
be applied toward a certificate. These
credits could also transfer to an associate
or technical degree programs. The
programs are also being made available
those who currently not employed in
the dairy industry but are considering
seeking employment on Idaho dairy farm
operations.
Some of the modules that will be offered are:
Milkers’ training: Introduction to
Idaho’s dairy industry; Pasteurized
Milk Ordinance; dairy design; milking
equipment; cow behavior; milking
routine; udder health and mastitis;
milking systems and equipment; and
workplace safety, biosecurity and
milker’s responsibilities.
Feeder training: Applied principles
of feeding dairy animals, feed
components, analysis and
interpretation; TMR mixing
and troubleshooting; feedbunk
management; metabolic diseases and
nutrients and the environment.
Calving and transition cows’
management training: Dry cow
management; the calving process and
calving assistance; cow management at
parturition and care of fresh cows.
Calf-raising training: Neonatal calf
management; colostrum programs;
feeding dairy calves; managing calf
housing and calf health management.
Animal care and handling training:
Importance of animal care; dairy cattle
stockmanship / low stress animal
handling; care of calves; identifying sick
animals; management of non-ambulatory
cows; when and how to practice
euthanasia; legal issues and lameness on
dairies.
For additional information about the program, please contact
Dr. Mireille Chahine, Associate Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist,
University of Idaho, 208-736-3600, mchahine@uidaho.edu or
Terry Patterson, Instructional Dean, College of Southern Idaho,
208-732-6402, tpatterson@csi.edu.
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 17
Idaho’s Dairy Processors
Ballard Cheese
Chobani
Ballard Family Dairy & Cheese, based in
Gooding, Idaho, creates award-winning cheeses,
including Idaho White Cheddar; Truffle Salt
Cheddar; Pepper Cheddar; cheese curds in seven flavors; Baby
Swiss; Danish Pearl (Gouda Style); Jersey Dream (Feta Style); and
Idaho Golden Greek Grilling Cheese (Halloumi Style).
Chobani is the world’s most
recognizable name in the Greek Yogurt
market. Started in 2005, Chobani recently opened a new production
facility in Twin Falls, Idaho. In addition to bringing hundreds of jobs to
the Magic Valley, the Twin Falls plant also uses locally sourced milk
from Idaho farms.
Ballard Cheese, which was founded nine years ago, makes its
cheeses in small, handmade batches to ensure the finest quality and
richest taste for consumers. The milk used comes from a small herd
of approximately 100 cows.
The Twin Falls plant was awarded Food Engineer’s “Plant of the
Year” award for its state-of-the-art facility that was built in just 326
days. The new plant covers 100 million square feet, and is now the
largest yogurt manufacturing plant in the world. For more information,
visit www.chobani.com.
Ballard Cheese has invested heavily in efficiencies and sustainability
while ensuring that quality and freshness remain priorities for
the company. In 2013, Ballard Cheese was recognized for its
environmental stewardship at the US Dairy Sustainability Awards in
Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.ballardcheese.com.
Brewster Cheese
Cloverleaf Creamery
Swiss Immigrant John Leeman purchased the
Ohio Brewster Cheese facility in 1965. Since
then, they have expanded to include additional facilities in Stockton,
Illinois and Rupert, Idaho.
Cloverleaf Creamery uses an
old-fashioned technique to bottle
healthy, all natural milk from their small dairy of registered, pedigree
Holsteins. Owner Bill Stoltzfus has been in the dairy business since
the early 70’s and he is nationally known for his award winning herd.
Brewster Cheese is the largest manufacturer of Swiss cheese in the
United States and is headquartered in Brewster, OH. The company
is committed to producing consistently superior quality cheese and
whey products, employing process-enhancing technology to reduce
costs and utilizing value-added services
Today, Brewster Cheese’s three facilities throughout the US
produce around 85 million pounds of cheese annually. For more
information, visit www.brewstercheese.com.
18 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Though the creamery opened in 2007, milk production has been
operational since 1992. The creamery’s products range from various
milk products to cream, butter, yogurt and ice cream. Processing
roughly 28,000 pounds of milk per week, Cloverleaf makes all of its
products from the milk produced in its own dairy, which currently
milks around 80 cows on a regular basis.
Commercial Creamery
Davisco Foods
In the early 1900s, Commercial Creamery
offered many traditional dairy products to the
Pacific Northwest region of the United States.
Since then, Commercial Creamery Company
has become a leading developer and manufacturer of specialty
food ingredients.
Davisco Foods is an international
cheese and food ingredient company
headquartered in Le Sueur, MN. Founded
in 1943 by Stanley Davis, with his purchase of the St. Peter Creamery,
Davisco is managed by Jon Davis, CEO and grandson of the founder.
Davisco has cheese companies in Le Sueur, MN; Jerome, ID and
Lake Norden, SD as well as food ingredient companies in Le Sueur
and Nicollet, MN, Lake Norden, SD and Jerome, ID. Davisco has sales
offices in Minneapolis, Geneva, Shanghai and worldwide strategic
partners in the Middle East, Japan and Africa.
Their expertise and ongoing research in spray-dried cheese powders
and other specialty dairy powders are unmatched. Their products are
necessary ingredients in a variety of delicious foods, including unique
snack seasonings, rice and pasta dishes, entrées, baked goods, dips,
dressings, sauces, and soups.
Focused on quality, consistency and excellent customer service,
Commercial Creamery serves numerous clients in the United
States and throughout the world and exports its products to more
than 25 countries presently. For more information, visit
www.cheesepowder.com.
Davisco processes 11 million pounds of milk per day into cheese and
whey products. Davisco prides itself in its support of local communities
by providing jobs and buying milk from regional farmers. Meticulous
about quality control and excellent customer service, Davisco’s
mission is to lead the industry in food technology by producing
innovative proteins for health and nutrition. For more information, visit
www.daviscofoods.com.
Darigold
Glanbia Foods
Darigold produces the equivalent of two
million gallons of milk per day and distributes
a full line of dairy-based products for
wholesale, retail, grocery, foodservice, commodity and specialty
markets. Consumer products that Darigold produces include milk,
half-and-half, whipping cream, buttermilk, cottage cheese, yogurt,
sour cream and butter. The company also produces cheese, milk
powder and whey products for institutions, food brokers and food
processing companies. These ingredient customers range from
small food processors to very large multi-national food companies
with household names. Darigold, Inc. operates 12 processing plants
throughout the Northwest to serve its dairy farm families. For more
information, visit www.darigold.com.
Glanbia Foods is the world’s largest
producer of American Style cheese.
Headquartered in Twin Falls, Idaho,
Glanbia works closely with dairy operations to receive quality milk
needed to produce award-winning cheese. With the help of more than
1,000 employees, Glanbia and its sister company Southwest Cheese,
of Clovis, NM, makes, sells and ships more than 880 million pounds
of cheese annually, serving customers in more than 30 countries.
Glanbia Foods is a powerful global cheese player and a division
of Glanbia, plc, a publically traded international company based
in Ireland with strong footprints in cheese and nutrition. For more
information, visit www.glanbiausa.com.
2015 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 19
Idaho’s Dairy Processors
Gossner Foods, Inc.
Idaho Milk Products
Gossner Foods was founded in 1966 by Ed
Gossner. At that time, 1/2 vat of cheese was made
every other day, and only the milk from the family
dairy farm was used. Today, Gossner Foods
has three locations – Logan, Utah; Imperial Valley, California and
Gossner Foods of Magic Valley.
Located in Jerome, Idaho, Idaho Milk
Products is a privately held international milk
processing leader supplying Milk Protein
Isolate, Milk Protein Concentrate, Milk Permeate and Cream to
global food and nutrition companies. Owned by three American
dairies, Idaho Milk Products has the world’s most efficient farmto-finished product operation resulting in the freshest and highest
quality dairy ingredients available. Idaho Milk Products operates
the largest dedicated Milk Protein Concentrate and Milk Protein
Isolate processing plant in the world, processing 40 million pounds
(18 metric tons) of IdaPro™ MPC and MPI per year. For more
information, visit www.idahomilkproducts.com.
Between the three locations, Gossner Foods has over 350 farm
families and nearly 600 employees. Gossner Foods produces
60,000,000 pounds of Swiss cheese each year, about 18% of the
total Swiss produced in the United States.
All Gossner Foods milk is Grade A. Most of Gossners Foods’
production is Swiss cheese, but the company also produces UHT
shelf stable milk, fresh cheese curd, Muenster, fresh butter, cheese
spreads, ice cream, and whey protein concentrate. Gossner Foods
packages over 1.3 million pounds of cheese per week, much of which
is private label. For more information, visit www.gossner.com.
High Desert Milk
Lactalis American Group
Six farmers and dairy owners from the Burley and
Twin Falls region of Idaho founded High Desert
Milk in 2001. The six owners had, at the time of the
company’s founding, a vision to create a stable market for their
milk and develop and end product of which they could be proud.
The Lactalis Nampa plant employs more than
600 Idahoans, produces cheese and whey products made from milk the majority of which is purchased from local and regional dairies.
The Nampa plant is the company’s flagship plant in the United States
and is part of Lactalis American Group (LAG) which in the United
States produces some of America’s most popular cheese brands,
including Président, Galbani, Sorrento, Precious and Rondelé.
Vertical integration and ownership of farms, dairies, trucks and
the milk plant allow High Desert Milk to control and monitor all
aspects of its supply chain and offer its customers the youngest
and freshest products on the market. The company prides itself
on clean, flavorful powdered milk and sweet cream butter, always
meeting Grade A product standards.
Today, High Desert Milk owners farm close to 40,000 acres, milk
35,000 cows and market 2.2 million pounds of milk per day. For
more information, visit www.highdesertmilk.com.
20 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Since 2012, LAG is entirely controlled by Parmalat Group, an
Italian-based global player in the production and distribution of milk,
dairy products (yogurt, cream based sauces, desserts and cheese)
and fruit beverages, which generated revenues of about 5.2 billion
euros in 2012. Parmalat Group is present in 29 countries and has
70 factories and about 16,000 people work at Parmalat’s facilities in
Europe, the Americas, Africa and Australia.
Since 2011, Groupe Lactalis owns today an 82.2% interest in
Parmalat S.p.A., the holding company of Parmalat Group, which
is listed on the Italian Stock Exchange. Groupe Lactalis is n. 1
for dairy products in the world. For more information, visit
www.lactalisamericangroup.com.
Marathon Cheese
Reed’s Dairy
Ray and Marie Goldbach founded
Marathon Cheese in 1952. Things have come a long way since the
Goldbachs founded the company in their basement. The Mountain
Home, Idaho location was opened in 2007 and continues to produce
quality cheese.
Reed’s Dairy is a 160-cow producer/handler
in Idaho Falls. Their processing facility bottles
non-fat, 1%, 2% and whole milk in returnable
half gallon plastic and glass bottles as well as disposable gallon
bottles that are sold in grocery stores. They also produce a super
premium ice cream, soft serve ice cream mix, mild cheddar and
mozzarella cheese.
Marathon Cheese packages millions of pounds of cheese each year
– customizing packaging and orders for clients. Marathon Cheese
never competes with their clients; instead, maintaining themselves
as one of the only cheese packagers that never sells direct to
retailers, wholesalers, marketers or food service operations. For more
information, visit www.mcheese.com.
The majority of Reed’s products are sold in their own dairy store
and milk home delivery routes. Orders through their website have
their ice cream and chocolate milk shipped all across the United
States. For more information, visit www.reedsdairy.com.
Stoker Farms
Stoker Farms is a milk processing plant in
Burley, ID that was founded in 1943.
The family-owned facility has 7 full-time
employees who process around 70,000 lbs.
of milk each week.
Stoker receives their milk from a dairy in Jerome, ID. They bottle
whole, 2%, 1% and skim milk in both the gallon and half gallon.
Stoker also bottles organic milk for Organic Acres, a local organic
company. Their bottled milk is sold commercially throughout the
state and the region.
2014 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 21
Idaho’s Dairy Cooperatives
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Magic Valley Quality Milk Producers
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is a national
milk marketing cooperative owned by and
focused on more than 13,000 dairy farmer members in 48 states.
The cooperative’s core business is to market members’ milk, pay
them a competitive price, deliver value and be a leader in the
industry. Our membership in Idaho is 82 operations strong.
Magic Valley Quality Milk Producers Inc. was
established in 1987 by a group of producers
located in Southern Idaho, which provided milk to processors
located in Idaho and Utah. Over the next ten years, the producer
base expanded to nearly 70 producer members located in both
states. After Mid-American Dairymen purchased a major customer
located in Utah in 1998, which accounted for nearly 25% of
the market, many Utah members decided to form their own
organization.
At DFA, we are making investments in new products, new facilities
and new ways for families around the world to enjoy what our
member-owners produce. Our customers in Idaho include: Chobani
Inc, High Desert Milk, Brewster Cheese, Darigold, Glanbia, Sorrento
Lactalis, Gossner Foods and Dean Foods. These businesses
connect family farms to family tables. For more information, visit
www.dfamilk.com.
Today, Magic Valley has 30 member farms located in Southern
Idaho with nearly 3,000,000 lbs. of milk per day. It also hauls nearly
95% of their member milk after forming an entity to support this
effort in 2011.
Independent Milk Producers Cooperative, Inc.
Northwest Dairy Association
Independent Milk Producers Cooperative, Inc. was established in
2004 by a group of local dairy producers who wanted to be more
engaged in the marketing and pricing of their milk. The Co-op is
comprised of ten family-owned and operated dairies within the Magic
Valley area in Southwestern Idaho. The Co-op’s members range from
small to medium-sized dairies. Independent Milk prides itself on the
quality of milk supplied to its customers, which exceeds all state and
federal quality standards. All Co-op member dairies are Grade A.
Northwest Dairy Association (NDA) is an
integrated milk marketing and processing
cooperative, owned by over 500 dairy
producers (with a total of 79 member-owners
located in Idaho). Its marketing and processing subsidiary Darigold,
produces a full line of dairy-based products for retail, food service,
commodity and specialty markets. Darigold operates 12 processing
plants throughout the Northwest, including ones in Boise, Jerome
and Caldwell, Idaho, to serve its dairy farm families. Idaho NDA
members ship a total of 2.06 billion lbs. out of the co-op’s total 8.0
billion pounds of annual milk supply from farms in Washington,
Oregon, Idaho, northern California, Montana and Utah. NDA is the
fifth largest dairy cooperative in the United States based on milk
volume.
Beyond the exceptional quality of its products, the Co-op has also
strived to build long term, mutually beneficial relationships with its
customers over the past 9 years, which has translated into a more
competitive milk price for its members.
22 | IDAHO DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION
Associate Members
Cooper Norman
FCStone
Founded by E. LeGrande
Nelson in 1954, Cooper
Norman has grown to become
the #1 public accounting firm
with a reputation for quality
service and innovative
planning ideas.
FCStone originated as 550
grain cooperatives known
as Farmers Commodity
Corporation (“FCC”). FCC
continued to evolve, merging
with Saul Stone to become
FCStone, going public in
2007 and acquiring leading
dairy price risk management
firm Downes-O’Neill LLC end
establishing our roots in the
dairy industry.
Today, our dairy clients milk
approximately 50% of the cows
in Idaho. Our professional
team has invested significant
hours and resources to
gain a working knowledge
beyond your financial
statements, including herd
health, reproduction and
dairy management concepts.
Our commitment to these
disciplines and building
relationships enable us to
be Idaho’s premier dairy
accounting firm. Cooper Norman provides all
traditional financial and tax
services, and also provide
consulting services such as
negotiating and evaluating
financing alternatives, forecasts
and projections, cost of
production analysis, estate and
transition planning to younger
generations, and tax planning
strategies. Our goal is to
exceed your expectations.
Today we continue this longstanding commitment to the
dairy industry as the dairy/
foods group of FCStone. Our
emphasis is on assisting and
educating the industry on how
to manage margins, taking a
lead role in liaising between
exchanges and the industry
to develop new tools for
dairy, both domestically and
internationally. We continue
to be the dairy industry’s
advocate, helping its members
through innovation, education
and developing new tools that
better fit industry needs.
Today INTL is ranked #30 on
the 2012 Fortune 500 with 33
offices in 13 countries and total
assets of $3.0 billion.
Northwest Farm
Credit Services
Northwest Farm Credit
Services has been serving
farmers and ranchers for
nearly a hundred years. As the
largest financial cooperative in
the Northwest, no other lender
understands agriculture better
or is more committed to the
future of rural America. With
a unique understanding of the
marketplace and proven track
record of being even handed
through various commodity
and economic cycles, our
employees are viewed as
trusted advisors by the
customers they serve.
Northwest FCS is a $12 billion
financial cooperative with
farm-elected governance and
strong patronage dividends
paid to customer-owners. The
cooperative is also part of a
$194 billion nationwide
network of borrower-owned
lending institutions, and
regularly provides seminars,
financial workshops and
one-on-one business planning
and facilitation. Visit
www.northwestfcs.com to
learn more.
Sawtooth Law Offices
Sawtooth Law Offices is
dedicated to providing
excellent service to the legal
and policy needs of Idaho
citizens, businesses, water
users and recreationists.
With offices in Boise, Challis
and Twin Falls, we are
strategically located throughout
Southern and Central Idaho
to provide superior service to
producers and organizations
related to Idaho’s key
resources – agriculture,
natural resources, recreation,
and water. Our attorneys
are licensed to practice law
in state and federal courts
in Idaho and Washington,
and before the U.S. Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals.
Moreover, our attorneys
have unique experience in
handling legislation at the
Idaho statehouse and water
rights matters in the Snake
River Basin Adjudication and
before the Idaho Department
of Water Resources. Sawtooth
Law utilizes a friendly, team
approach to pursue your legal
needs in a cost effective,
efficient manner. Our team
includes attorneys David
Claiborne, Bryce Farris, Evan
Roth, Dan Steenson and Andy
Waldera.
Associate Membership
Idaho Dairymen’s Association offers associate membership packages for individuals and organizations that share our strategic vision for the well-being
of Idaho’s dairy producers. We have two levels of associate memberships available and each one generates awareness for you and your organization
among our members, partners and other individuals that we come into contact with through our industry report, newsletters, website and event
sponsorship.
For more information about becoming an associate member and to fill out an application, please visit IdahoDairymens.org/AssociateMembership or
email us at bob@wdbs.us.
2014 INDUSTRY PROFILE | 23
195 River Vista Place
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301
208.736.1953
www.idahodairymens.org
UPDATED FEBRUARY 2015