Land O'Lakes Dairy Cooperative
Last reviewed: December 2025
Farmer-owned dairy cooperative providing milk marketing, dairy foods processing, and member services across the United States.
Land O'Lakes is one of the largest farmer-owned cooperatives in the United States, with dairy operations spanning milk marketing and processing. The cooperative markets milk for member dairy farmers and processes it into consumer products including butter, cheese, and fluid milk.
Member benefits include competitive milk pricing, patronage dividends returning profits to farmer-owners, and access to cooperative programs for feed, supplies, and risk management. The cooperative's scale provides market stability and access to major customers.
Land O'Lakes also operates agricultural services divisions including animal nutrition (Purina) and crop inputs (WinField United), providing integrated support for member farms.
Key Features
- Milk Marketing: Guaranteed market for member milk production
- Competitive Pricing: Class pricing with cooperative premiums
- Patronage Dividends: Profit distribution to farmer-owners
- Member Services: Purchasing programs, risk management, technical support
- Market Access: Connection to major dairy customers and retailers
Advanced Features
- Equity Building: Member ownership stake in cooperative
- Risk Management: Forward contracting and hedging programs
- Sustainability Programs: Environmental and animal welfare initiatives
- Purina Feed Access: Member pricing on animal nutrition products
Ideal For
Farm Types: Dairy farms, Any size operation seeking cooperative marketing
Competitive Advantages
What sets Land O'Lakes Dairy Cooperative apart from alternatives:
- Farmer-owned structure returns profits to members
- Large-scale processing and marketing infrastructure
- Integrated services from nutrition to crop inputs
- Market stability through cooperative scale
- Long history of dairy industry leadership
Pricing Information
Here is the pricing information for Land O'Lakes Dairy Cooperative:
Land O'Lakes member pricing and milk marketing.
Pricing Model: Cooperative milk marketing
Land O'Lakes dairy cooperative. Contact local field representative for membership information and current premiums.
Pros & Considerations
- Established national cooperative
- Diversified dairy and ag business
- Brand recognition and marketing
- Member programs and services
- Long history and stability
- Large organization structure
- Pricing tied to commodity markets
- Cooperative governance applies
- Not available in all regions
Implementation & Setup
How to implement Land O'Lakes Dairy Cooperative on your dairy operation:
Implementation Timeline: Membership application: 1-3 months
Training & Support
Training and support options available for Land O'Lakes Dairy Cooperative:
Support Channels:
Evaluation Questions
Key questions to consider when evaluating Land O'Lakes Dairy Cooperative:
- Are you in Land O'Lakes service territory?
- What is your current milk volume?
- What are your milk quality metrics (SCC, bacteria)?
- Are you interested in cooperative ownership benefits?
- What other member services would benefit your operation?