Dairy Management Inc. Checkoff
By Dairy Management Inc.
Last reviewed: December 2025
National dairy checkoff program that funds dairy promotion, research, and nutrition education using mandatory producer assessments.
Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) manages the national dairy checkoff program, which collects assessments from dairy producers to fund dairy promotion, research, and education. The program is authorized by federal law and overseen by USDA.
Checkoff funds support initiatives including advertising campaigns like "Fuel Up to Play 60," school milk programs, food service partnerships (including McDonald's and pizza chains), nutrition research, and product innovation.
The checkoff is funded by a mandatory 15 cents per hundredweight assessment on milk marketed commercially. Producers are represented on the National Dairy Board, which sets program priorities.
Key Features
- National Advertising: Consumer advertising campaigns for dairy
- School Programs: Fuel Up to Play 60 and school milk promotion
- Food Service Partnerships: Relationships with major chains to increase dairy use
- Nutrition Research: Scientific research supporting dairy's role in diet
- Product Innovation: Support for new dairy product development
Advanced Features
- Export Promotion: US Dairy Export Council programs
- Sustainability: Net Zero Initiative and environmental stewardship
- Consumer Insights: Research on dairy consumption trends
- Local Programs: State and regional promotion through Unified Marketing Plans
Ideal For
Farm Types: All commercial dairy farms
Competitive Advantages
What sets Dairy Management Inc. Checkoff apart from alternatives:
- Collective promotion at national scale
- Research supporting dairy nutrition claims
- Partnerships with major food chains
- Producer governance and representation
- Integrated state and national programs
Pricing Information
Here is the pricing information for Dairy Management Inc. Checkoff:
National dairy promotion funded by mandatory producer checkoff.
Pricing Model: Mandatory checkoff assessment
All U.S. dairy farmers contribute through checkoff. Managed by Dairy Management Inc. for National Dairy Board.
Pros & Considerations
- Unified national dairy promotion funding
- Research and innovation programs
- Consumer marketing campaigns
- Partnerships with food service and retail
- Nutrition research and education
- Mandatory contribution from milk sales
- Individual producer input limited
- Benefits are industry-wide not farm-specific
- Some producers question ROI
Implementation & Setup
How to implement Dairy Management Inc. Checkoff on your dairy operation:
Implementation Timeline: Automatic through milk sales
Training & Support
Training and support options available for Dairy Management Inc. Checkoff:
Support Channels:
Evaluation Questions
Key questions to consider when evaluating Dairy Management Inc. Checkoff:
- How is checkoff contributing to your milk price?
- Are you aware of local checkoff-funded programs?
- Do you participate in producer input opportunities?
- Are you using checkoff-funded promotional materials?
- How does checkoff research support your marketing?