Michigan Milk Producers Take Home Nearly Half of National Dairy Quality Awards
Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) brought home nearly half of the National Dairy Quality Awards, with 21 of their member farms being nationally recognized. Of which, MMPA members earned one platinum award, eight gold awards and twelve silver awards.
Now in its 28th year, the National Dairy Quality Award program recognizes farms that have produced high-quality milk consistently in three tiers: platinum, gold and silver. The awards presentation took place last week in conjunction with National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif., last week in San Diego, Calif.
“This year’s National Dairy Quality Awards results underscores our members’ commitment to producing the highest quality milk possible,” Dean Letter, MMPA director of member services, said. “The impressive showing of members in the award program is because of our member’s dedication to quality and their tenacity in overcoming the daily challenges of dairy farming. Congratulations to our twenty-one members recognized!”
MMPA member-owners Brad, Mary and Larry Crandall of Crandall Dairy Farms LLC. from Battle Creek, Mich., were one of the Platinum award winners. The Crandall family milks 350 cows and in 2021 their herd had a 67,000 somatic cell count (SCC) and P.I. counts of 4,750 P.I.
MMPA is a member-owned and operated milk marketing cooperative and dairy processor serving dairy farmers throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana. They offer a quality premium incentive for its members to produce higher quality milk. In the fiscal year 2021, total producer incentive premiums, including quality totaled $23.6 million.
Other MMPA Award winners recognized were:
Gold Awards
- Don Beattie, Holton, Michigan
- Jeff, Earl and Mason Horning; Katelyn Packard, Manchester, Michigan
- Burke and Lisa Larsen, Scottville, Michigan
- Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan
- Tjerk and Ramona Okkema, Blanchard, Michigan
- Mark and Jolinda Ramer, Hale, Michigan
- David Schultz, Sandusky, Michigan
- Kris and Carla Wardin, St. Johns, Michigan
Silver Awards
- Charles Bode, Marion, Michigan
- Michael Bosscher, McBain, Michigan
- Ron Brinks, McBain, Michigan
- Dale, Bonnie and Kurt Brinks, McBain, Michigan
- Sam, Doug and Cheri Chapin, Remus, Michigan
- Paul and Betty DeMann, Martin, Michigan
- Steve, Phil, Kevin and Joel Gross, Weidman, Michigan
- Norm, Kim and Derrick Hammond, Dowling, Michigan
- Bill and Jason Hardy, Stanton, Michigan
- Alan and Deborah Koppenol; Ken Raterink, Coopersville, Michigan
- Allen and Aaron Slater, Holton, Michigan
- Dave and Rick Tacoma, Falmouth, Michigan
Along with Crandall Dairy Farms LLC., five other dairies earned a Platinum award: Blue Star Dairy Middleton LLC, Wis.; Country Aire Farms, Wis.; Dolph Dairy LLC, Wis.; Tollgate Holsteins, N.Y.; and University of Wisconsin Marshfield Agricultural Research Station, Wis.
Farms were nominated by professionals, such as dairy plant field staff, veterinarians, extension specialists and Dairy Herd Improvement supervisors, who serve the dairy industry.
The National Dairy Quality Award program evaluates farm applicants 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.
