National NMPF Membership & Advocacy
By National Milk Producers Federation
Last reviewed: December 2025
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is the voice of dairy farmers in Washington, D.C., representing nearly 32,000 dairy producers through member...
Quick Snapshot
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is the voice of dairy farmers in Washington, D.C., representing nearly 32,000 dairy producers through member cooperatives on federal policy, trade, and regulatory issues.
Overview
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) was founded in 1916 and serves as the primary national voice for America's dairy farmers. Through its member cooperatives, NMPF represents the majority of U.S. milk production and advocates for policies that support dairy farm profitability and sustainability.
NMPF's work spans multiple critical areas: negotiating Farm Bill provisions like Dairy Margin Coverage, advocating for Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization, fighting for fair trade agreements, pushing for dairy-friendly labor policies, and defending real dairy against imitation product mislabeling.
The organization operates several important programs including the National Dairy FARM Program (on-farm animal care, environmental stewardship, and workforce standards), NEXT dairy export assistance, and the Young Cooperators program for emerging dairy leaders.
NMPF membership comes through your dairy cooperative—if your co-op is an NMPF member, you're represented. This cooperative-based structure ensures that farmer interests drive the organization's priorities.
Ideal Users
Farm Types: Conventional dairy, Organic dairy, Grazing operations
Herd Size: All sizes represented through cooperative membership
Key Roles: Dairy farmers, Cooperative members, Farm families
Geographic Focus: All U.S. dairy regions
Key Features
Federal Policy Advocacy
Full-time presence on Capitol Hill advocating for dairy farmer interests on Farm Bill, appropriations, and regulatory issues
Trade Policy Leadership
Advocates for fair trade agreements and enforcement of existing deals like USMCA to protect U.S. dairy markets
Milk Pricing Expertise
Leads efforts to modernize Federal Milk Marketing Orders and improve dairy risk management programs
Regulatory Engagement
Works with USDA, FDA, EPA and other agencies on rules affecting dairy operations
National Dairy FARM Program
Industry-leading on-farm standards for animal care, environmental stewardship, and workforce development
Advanced Capabilities
NEXT Export Assistance
Helps cooperatives access international markets through export promotion and trade barrier resolution
Young Cooperators Program
Develops next-generation dairy leaders through education, networking, and advocacy training
Crisis Response
Rapid advocacy during emergencies like HPAI, weather disasters, and market disruptions
Coalition Building
Works with allied organizations to amplify dairy's voice on shared priorities
Integrations & Partnerships
Works With: Member cooperatives, USDA, Congressional offices, Trade representatives
Data Flow: Member cooperatives provide input on farmer priorities; NMPF communicates policy updates back to producers
Industry Standards: FARM Program standards, USDA regulations, FDA guidelines
Competitive Advantages
Getting Started
Timeline: Membership is automatic through participating cooperatives
Infrastructure: Engagement through cooperative newsletters, NMPF communications, and advocacy alerts
Migration: N/A - membership-based organization
Tips for Success:
Training & Support
Training: Young Cooperators program, Annual Meeting educational sessions
Support Channels: Contact through member cooperative or directly via nmpf.org
Community: Young Cooperators network, Annual Meeting, cooperative engagement
Pricing
Model: Cooperative Membership (No Direct Farmer Dues)
Cost to Individual Farmers: $0
NMPF membership comes automatically through your dairy cooperative. Individual farmers do not pay any direct dues to NMPF.
How It Works
| Component | Cost | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| Individual Farmer Dues | $0 | No direct cost to farmers |
| Cooperative Contribution | Per cwt basis | Your cooperative pays based on milk volume marketed |
| Your Representation | Automatic | If your co-op is an NMPF member, you are represented |
What Your Cooperative Pays
Dairy cooperatives pay NMPF membership dues based on the hundredweight (cwt) of milk they market. These costs are absorbed by the cooperative and do not appear as a line-item deduction on your milk check.
Value You Receive
Contact: Check with your cooperative to confirm NMPF membership, or contact NMPF directly at info@nmpf.org
Evaluation Questions
Recommended Reading
Recommended Viewing
Key Features
- Federal Policy Advocacy: Full-time presence on Capitol Hill advocating for dairy farmer interests on Farm Bill, appropriations, and regulatory issues
- Trade Policy Leadership: Advocates for fair trade agreements and enforcement of existing deals like USMCA to protect U.S. dairy markets
- Milk Pricing Expertise: Leads efforts to modernize Federal Milk Marketing Orders and improve dairy risk management programs
- Regulatory Engagement: Works with USDA, FDA, EPA and other agencies on rules affecting dairy operations
- National Dairy FARM Program: Industry-leading on-farm standards for animal care, environmental stewardship, and workforce development
Advanced Features
- NEXT Export Assistance: Helps cooperatives access international markets through export promotion and trade barrier resolution
- Young Cooperators Program: Develops next-generation dairy leaders through education, networking, and advocacy training
- Crisis Response: Rapid advocacy during emergencies like HPAI, weather disasters, and market disruptions
- Coalition Building: Works with allied organizations to amplify dairy's voice on shared priorities
Ideal For
Farm Types: Conventional dairy, Organic dairy, Grazing operations
Competitive Advantages
What sets NMPF Membership & Advocacy apart from alternatives:
- Largest dairy farmer organization with ~32,000 producers represented
- Over 100 years of dairy policy experience
- Cooperative-based structure ensures farmer-driven priorities
- Full-time Washington presence with expert staff
- Comprehensive programs spanning policy, trade, and on-farm standards
Pricing Information
Here is the pricing information for NMPF Membership & Advocacy:
Individual farmers do not pay NMPF dues directly. Representation is provided through your cooperative's membership. Cooperatives pay dues to NMPF based on their milk volume.
Pricing Model: Cooperative membership (no direct dues)
NMPF is funded by member cooperatives, not individual farmers. If your cooperative is an NMPF member, you are represented automatically. The cooperative dues structure is based on hundredweight of milk marketed.
Pros & Considerations
- National-level policy influence
- FARM Program development and resources
- Trade policy expertise and advocacy
- Dairy pricing and market expertise
- Broad industry representation through cooperatives
- Indirect membership through cooperatives
- Policy decisions reflect diverse member interests
- Results depend on political environment
- May not address individual producer concerns
Implementation & Setup
How to implement NMPF Membership & Advocacy on your dairy operation:
Implementation Timeline: Membership is automatic through participating cooperatives
Training & Support
Training and support options available for NMPF Membership & Advocacy:
Support Channels:
Evaluation Questions
Key questions to consider when evaluating NMPF Membership & Advocacy:
- Is my cooperative a member of NMPF?
- How can I stay informed about federal policies affecting my operation?
- Are there opportunities for young farmers in my family to get involved?
- How do I respond to NMPF action alerts?
- What FARM Program standards should I be aware of?