Independence through Cooperation

DFA’s vision binds 34 percent of the nation’s dairy producers to a unified cause, reflecting a spirit of agricultural independence through cooperation.

DFA’s objective is to be a dairy producer cooperative, national in scope, that is committed to members in marketing milk, providing top quality service in a cost-effective manner, and building domestic and international opportunities that increase returns to members.

It’s just that basic.

You own it. DFA members own the operations and provide the capital that runs the day-to-day business of marketing and manufacturing milk. DFA’s base capital plan caps a member’s investment, and once achieved, DFA returns 100 percent earnings in cash.

You share earnings. DFA enhances a member’s return on investment through its two national manufacturing groups. Earnings generate through DFA's fluid and value-added operations and its many diversified joint ventures are returned to members. DFA has an excellent reputation for returning equity to members and also has an equity redemption program for estates and inactive equity holders.

You get service. DFA goes on-farm with its skilled field professionals to help members where they need it most. Trained to assist dairy farmers in the production of top quality milk, DFA’s field staff works with DFA’s qualified and degreed quality control staff and milk testing facilities to assist in the areas of quality control, mastitis prevention, bulk tank monitoring (in select areas) and equipment inspections. DFA’s field staff is the dairy farmer’s link to a wide variety of information, 24-hour voice and Internet access to lab results, as well as numerous marketing and cooperative programs.

You have options. DFA offers a wide array of optional services and benefits developed exclusively to meet the diverse needs of its dairy farm families. DFA offers forward contracting and futures options that can assist members in managing their farm’s cash flow and financial risk. Other optional services include: information programs, direct deposit, financial loans (in select areas), Young Cooperators, political representation, medical insurance, and much more.

It is our members who help make DFA the world’s premier producer-owned dairy cooperative and food company. It is our world-class status that enables us to provide our members with numerous benefits and services. And it is the benefits and services we offer our members that help make DFA the dairy industry’s co-op of choice.