Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative encouraged by milk pricing reform dialogue

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 16, 2022

Contact: Travis Senn
Interim director of communications and marketing

(920) 948-7666 | tsenn@voiceofmilk.com

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative encouraged
by milk pricing reform dialogue

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, one of the largest dairy co-ops in the country, over the weekend participated in an industry-wide effort to build consensus on milk pricing reforms. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), a farmer-led advocacy group, hosted farmers and industry groups in Kansas City, Mo., to discuss meaningful changes to the U.S. dairy pricing system.

Tim Trotter, CEO of the cooperative, made the following statement on the event:

"Edge is grateful for the opportunity to join other dairy groups in this collaborative forum to share ideas on the future of our milk pricing system. Discussion highlighted an interest in collaboration and laid a strong foundation for the dairy community to move towards the expectation of consensus laid forth by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. 

"We thank our friends at the American Farm Bureau Federation for hosting this constructive discussion. Additional thanks go to the numerous agricultural groups, leading experts and, most importantly, farmers who took time out of their busy schedules to contribute to the conversation.

"Edge is committed to building a more transparent pricing system that allows dairy farmers and their processor-partners to thrive. It is with meaningful and comprehensive reform that we can accomplish these goals and forge stronger farmer-processor relationships, built upon a foundation of trust and transparency."

Edge presented their milk pricing reform priorities at the event , which the cooperative unveiled in June, emphasizing a need for increased flexibility and fairness. Their priorities focus on two primary areas — enhancing regional flexibility for each order and implementing a standard set of “contracting principles” to build a more fair and equitable pricing system.

Audio:

Podcast on Edge’s milk pricing reform priorities

Video:

Edge press conference unveiling milk pricing reform priorities

Images:

Edge logo

About Edge:

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative provides dairy farmers throughout the Midwest with a powerful voice — the voice of milk — in Congress, with customers and within our communities. Edge, based in Green Bay, Wis., is the third largest dairy cooperative in the country based on milk volume. Member farms are located in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. More information: www.voiceofmilk.com. 

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