Michigan’s dairy producers have approved a referendum to continue the Michigan Dairy Market Program for Grade A milk.

Established in January 1983, the Michigan Dairy Market Program was developed to increase consumer awareness and promote the sale of milk and milk products within Michigan. 

The program will continue for an additional five years beginning Jan. 1. The current state program assessment is 10 cents per hundredweight of Michigan Grade A milk.

A total of 386 ballots were cast in the referendum. Of those, 345 producers voted yes (89%), representing about 3.4 billion pounds (91% of the production volume represented) and 41 producers voted no (11%), representing about 344 million pounds (9% of the production volume represented).

For renewal of the program and its activities, more than 50% of the voting producers, representing more than 50% of the pounds sold by those voting, must approve it.

Source: Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.