By Doug Chapin, MMPA Board Chairman
MMPA’s Annual Meeting theme this year was CHARGE. It’s fitting because we’ve seen a lot of change in the past year, not only as a cooperative, but in today’s customers and consumers. As a result of our own evolution, MMPA is ready to charge ahead.
To begin, I want to highlight some of the exciting progress within MMPA. This year we are pleased to be able to implement our base capital program with no changes to the current capital retains investment amount. The ability to implement the program is made possible through our cooperative’s strong financial position. This program ensures we continue to have the resources necessary to invest in our future, support our members and remain agile in a constantly changing marketplace.
This year, we saw investments into our plants that included not only the ultrafiltered technology expansion in Constantine and the innovative use of technology at the Canton plant to meet the needs of the Amul milk sales, but the replacement of the old and outdated tower dryer put into the Ovid plant which was a massive team effort. I’d like to thank the team that works on our behalf for all their efforts on the various initiatives we are involved with.
Our industry continues to have its challenges. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is a concern that arose less than a month after last year’s Annual Meeting and continues to impact dairy herds in new ways. We’ve been working closely with industry leaders to stay ahead and ensure the safety of our farms and milk supply.
In addition, the new administration brings challenges and opportunities. There is a need for a legal workforce, access to trade and new markets amid the current tariff conversation, WOTUS and regulatory clarity, and of course the need for a new Farm Bill. We’re thankful for our partnership with groups like the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) who work in Washington, D.C., lobbying on our behalf to ensure that dairy’s voice is heard on these critical issues.
It’s thanks to the work of NMPF and others in the dairy industry, including several of our own members, that the USDA will soon be implementing the Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization. It’s a significant step toward ensuring fair pricing and stability in the dairy markets. This achievement reflects years of hard work and collaboration, and I believe it positions us to face future challenges with strength and confidence.
This past year has been one of progress and resilience —all fitting as we focus on our theme, CHARGE. As a cooperative, the success of our organization this year is a direct result of member involvement. Our cooperative’s strength relies on members for their continued commitment to MMPA and our mission, including young farmers who have a future in our organization and our long-time members who provide the stability and wisdom that come with many years in the business. Thank you for being involved in your cooperative.
This article was originally published in the March/April 2025 issue of the Milk Messenger. Subscribe »