Dec. 29,  2010

Let it be known that on November 19, 2010, we the founding members of the National Dairy Producers Organization do hereby resolve and proudly proclaim the purposes of the National Dairy Producers Organization shall be to provide necessary leadership, voice, management and expertise to the U.S. dairy industry on behalf of the needs and financial interests of all U.S. dairy producers; we hereby commit all of our time, talents, and resources to ensure that U.S. dairy producers attain and maintain profitability now and in the future; we request equal resolve and commitment from every dairy producer in these United States, regardless of size or region, that we may achieve the goals as they are brought forward by the members of this board and members of this organization; and do hereby resolve that we as board members and members will always have and maintain a spirit of cooperation and resolve one with another that all may benefit from their own hard work, and the collective commitment to and association with each other and this organization. Dairy Producers Organization.

A message from the Board of Directors

Dec. 29,  2010

The National Dairy Producers Organization has been established to provide representation, within the U.S. dairy industry for, and on behalf of more than 54 thousand U.S. dairy producers. The ultimate purpose of the organization is to impact the pay price of milk to attain and maintain profitability for dairy producers nationwide. It is their responsibility to identify, provide and manage all necessary leadership and staffing, industry specialists and management to implement changes at the national, regional and state levels. To achieve their purpose, immediate goals have been set to affect current policy and procedures as well as to introduce new national, regional or state policy.

It is the responsibility of the National Dairy Producers Organization and its members to establish and maintain a working relationship with all dairy producers and affiliated businesses. They will also connect with public and private interests to support the dairy producers, their needs and their interests, especially as they relate to increased profitability both now and in the future.

It shall further be the policy of the National Dairy Producers Organization to initiate, and continually utilize a communications network that will allow instant and constant communication with their membership. They will allow the consistent, free flow of news, ideas, information and technology to all U.S. dairy producers, as well as the continuous movement of ideas and input back into the organization from U.S. producers and the membership.

Policy of the National Dairy Producers Organization establishes strong ties and improved working relationships with other organizations that influence the producer sector of the U.S. dairy industry. The National Dairy Producers Organization further resolves to achieve and maintain a full and equal partnership within the dairy industry, representing the needs and interests of dairy producers within. They will offer dairy industry partners, co-ops, processors, retailers and consumers the opportunity to work side by side with them. These relationships will ensure the perpetuation of a healthy and vital dairy industry that fairly compensates each partner, as well as encourage the growth and success of individual producers and the industry as a whole.

Through this partnership, every member is able to achieve and maintain a level of profitability and success. This includes the mentorship and sustainability of the next generation of producers, processors, retailers and consumers, to ensure a quality, affordable and wholesome product that meets the demands of our customers at every level of the dairy industry.

It is the responsibility of the board of directors and the management team to establish and maintain a working agenda. The agenda, as deemed appropriate by the board, shall only be limited by a vote of the board, and will remain on their working agenda until each item may be resolved to the satisfaction of the board and its membership.

In an effort to provide membership a better vision of the National Dairy Producers Organization, the board of directors has established the following list of items. These are presented for review of the membership to generate discussion, input and resolution regarding the purposes of the National Dairy Producers Organization. Additional items can, and will be added to this working agenda as they are recommended to the board and as circumstances change within the industry.

• The board of directors is working to establish committees, and subcommittees to provide necessary leadership and focused attention to each of the issues on their agenda with a specific and immediate focus on the top three agenda items. These issues are of specific concern as they provide the most immediate means by which the pay price of milk can be impacted.

• In light of recent increases in cost of feed and fuel, combined with the projected drop in the price of milk, the need for immediate and continuous discussion and near immediate resolution is critical. The weakened financial condition of the producer sector, as a result of the devastating losses of 2009 and 2010, requires immediate attention to these necessities.

• Let it be known to one and all that the board of directors of the National Dairy Producers Organization is committed to securing the membership of every dairy producer in the country. All producers are invited to call, learn and decide for themselves the merits of the National Dairy Producers Organization. The discussions on these calls disclose the full knowledge and understanding of what needs to be accomplished, what it will take to accomplish the tasks at hand, and what the future of the dairy industry will look like without a national organization representing the interests of dairy producers. Without the involvement of the producer partnership, little or no change will come about in time to prevent unparalleled losses in producer numbers nationwide.

We make these statements to all dairy producers with full consideration of the resolve of the board of directors to include their involvement in the process of change as a minimum requirement of our success. Each producer, the industry as a whole as well as the communities, counties and states that are vitally impacted by the financial stability and profitability of dairy producers, are to benefit from these actions.

We state clearly, and with the loudest voice possible that dairy producers must nationally organize to take total responsibility for their own future. One voice must be raised to represent every need and interest of the producer sector. An unmistakable force must be raised to bear on the demands and issues that have a devastating impact on the producer operations of this country. Producers must work together do whatever is necessary to identify and make the needed changes.
This work must get done. It is no longer a matter of if producers will be removed from the industry it is just a matter of when—unless these very same producers come together with an unending resolve, commitment and determination to work together to the benefit of every producer. We cannot expect that anyone else is responsible for producer profitability. It is the producers' responsibility to provide the necessary leadership to secure a better future for themselves, their families and this industry.

The National Dairy Producers Organization has been established by hard-working visionary individuals who are also dairy producers. They offer the opportunity for all dairy producers to get involved, to help get the work done and to accomplish that work in the shortest possible time. Time is of the essence. Too much has been lost. As a partner in the dairy industry, producers have the right to profit equally with the other dairy industry partners. Any policies and procedures that are in affect and prevent producer profitability must be changed or removed. But they can only be changed or removed by a strong and undaunted producer-led organization.

The time is now,   the need is real,  the opportunity is yours. Come and join the cause. Come and join our Drive to Survive.