Foremost Farms USA Membership

Quick Snapshot

Foremost Farms USA is a farmer-owned dairy cooperative with member farms across seven Midwest states, producing award-winning cheese, butter, and dairy ingredients.

Who It's For: Midwest dairy farmers seeking a well-established cooperative with diversified processing and strong quality focus.

What It Does Best: Produces high-quality cheese, butter, and dairy ingredients through eight manufacturing facilities operating 365/24/7.

Why It Matters: Cooperative ownership in a vertically integrated processor provides stable markets and value capture for Midwest dairy families.

Overview

Foremost Farms USA is a farmer-owned dairy cooperative headquartered in Wisconsin, representing hundreds of dairy farm members located across seven Midwest states. The cooperative operates eight manufacturing locations plus a headquarters office.

Foremost Farms processes millions of pounds of milk annually into award-winning cheese, butter, and dairy ingredients. The cooperative's cheese lineup includes both Italian and American-style varieties, while its butter operations produce all-natural products from cream separated on-site.

The cooperative emphasizes sustainability through its three-pillar strategy: Responsible for People, Responsible for the Planet, and Responsible for Healthy Food. This commitment extends from farm practices through manufacturing operations.

Member-owners of Foremost Farms supply high-quality milk with superior butterfat and protein content, which is the foundation of the cooperative's premium product positioning.

Ideal Users

Farm Types: Midwest family dairy, Conventional operations, Multi-generation farms

Herd Size: All sizes represented in membership

Key Roles: Dairy farm owners, Farm families, Midwest dairy producers

Geographic Focus: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio

Key Features

Diversified Processing

Cheese, butter, and dairy ingredients across eight facilities

Award-Winning Products

Regular recognition at national dairy product competitions

Cooperative Ownership

Members build equity and share in cooperative returns

Quality Milk

Focus on superior butterfat and protein content from member farms

Midwest Presence

Strong roots in America's dairy heartland

Advanced Capabilities

Sustainability Strategy

Comprehensive sustainability commitments across people, planet, and food

Continuous Improvement

Culture of learning and development for employees and members

Food Safety Leadership

Rigorous quality and safety programs throughout operations

Market Diversification

Products serve retail, foodservice, and industrial customers

Integrations & Partnerships

Works With: Milk testing labs, Quality management systems, Hauling logistics

Data Flow: Component and quality data supports member pricing; cooperative updates shared with members

Industry Standards: FDA Grade A, PMO, FARM Program, FSMA

Competitive Advantages

Strong Midwest cooperative heritage

Diversified product portfolio reduces market risk

Award-winning quality reputation

Comprehensive sustainability commitment

Member-focused culture and governance

Getting Started

Timeline: Membership application through Foremost Farms; acceptance based on geographic fit and milk supply

Infrastructure: Grade A dairy facilities in the service region

Migration: Coordination with Foremost Farms field staff

Tips for Success:

Focus on milk quality to maximize component values

Engage with the cooperative's sustainability programs

Participate in member meetings and governance

Connect with other Foremost Farms members in your area

Training & Support

Training: Member education, safety training, quality workshops

Support Channels: Field representatives, member services

Community: Midwest dairy community, member events

Pricing

Model: Component-Based Pricing with Quality Focus

Foremost Farms Pricing Structure

Foremost Farms pays members based on component values with emphasis on premium quality milk that supports award-winning cheese and butter production.

Component Pricing

| Component | Pricing Basis |

|-----------|---------------|

| Butterfat | Upper Midwest Federal Order $/lb pricing |

| Protein | Upper Midwest Federal Order $/lb pricing |

| Other Solids | Upper Midwest Federal Order $/lb pricing |

Quality Emphasis: Superior butterfat and protein content is the foundation of Foremost's premium products.

Quality Premiums

| Factor | Impact |

|--------|--------|

| SCC Premium | Low somatic cell count earns premium |

| Bacteria Count | Low bacteria counts = premium pay |

| Component Content | Higher butterfat/protein increases value |

Standard Deductions

| Deduction | Description |

|-----------|-------------|

| Hauling | Midwest region milk transportation |

| Checkoff Assessment | $0.15/cwt for national dairy promotion |

| Equity Retention | Builds member ownership in cooperative |

Cooperative Benefits

| Benefit | Description |

|---------|-------------|

| Diversified Processing | Cheese, butter, and ingredients reduces market risk |

| Award-Winning Products | Regular recognition at national dairy competitions |

| Patronage Dividends | Annual returns based on cooperative performance |

| Equity Building | Accumulate ownership stake over membership tenure |

| Sustainability Programs | Support for environmental stewardship |

Service Area

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio

Contact: foremostfarms.com | Contact your regional field representative

Evaluation Questions

Is my farm in Foremost Farms' service area?

What are the membership requirements?

How does the cooperative's equity program work?

What quality premiums are available?

How can I engage with sustainability programs?

Recommended Reading

[About Us](https://www.foremostfarms.com/about-us/) (Foremost Farms): Overview of the cooperative

[Members](https://www.foremostfarms.com/members/) (Foremost Farms): Member farm information

[Sustainability](https://www.foremostfarms.com/sustainability/) (Foremost Farms): Foremost Farms' sustainability commitments