Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)
Last reviewed: December 2025
Complete guide to Dairy Farmers of America, the nation's largest dairy cooperative with $23B revenue. Learn about membership, milk marketing, and producer...
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is the nation's largest dairy cooperative, with approximately $23 billion in annual revenue and 12,500 farmer-owners across all 50 states. Headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, DFA combines milk marketing, dairy product manufacturing, and producer services.
DFA's primary function is milk marketing—collecting, transporting, and selling members' milk to processing plants. The cooperative's scale ensures market access even in challenging conditions. DFA operates in seven geographic areas, each with regional management and member involvement.
Beyond milk marketing, DFA manufactures dairy products through owned processing facilities. Brands include Borden, Kemps, and regional labels. Manufacturing creates demand for member milk and captures value-add margins for the cooperative. Products span fluid milk, cheese, butter, and ingredients.
Producer services support member farm success. DFA Financial Services provides lending for dairy operations. Consulting services address management challenges. Input programs offer savings on farm supplies. Risk management tools help navigate price volatility.
Cooperative governance ensures farmer control. Members elect regional and national boards directing cooperative strategy. Annual meetings provide forums for member input. Patronage returns share cooperative earnings with members based on milk deliveries.
DFA membership requires meeting quality standards and signing a member agreement. Milk pickup, marketing, and payment are handled through the cooperative's systems. New members join through regional offices.
Key Features
- Milk Marketing: Collecting, transporting, and selling member milk. Market access assurance. Price negotiation. Payment processing.
- Dairy Manufacturing: Owned processing plants. Borden, Kemps, and other brands. Cheese, fluid milk, butter, ingredients.
- Producer Services: Financial services, consulting, input programs, risk management. Supporting farm success beyond milk marketing.
- Cooperative Structure: Farmer-owned cooperative. Member governance. Patronage returns. Democratic control.
- Regional Organization: Seven geographic areas. Local management. Regional member engagement. Tailored services.
- Scale Advantages: $23B revenue. #1 U.S. dairy cooperative. Market power. Operational efficiency.
Advanced Features
- DFA Financial Services: Dairy-focused lending. Operating lines. Equipment financing. Real estate loans.
- Risk Management Tools: Forward contracting. Dairy revenue protection. Price volatility management.
- Farm Supply Programs: Cooperative purchasing. Input discounts. Preferred vendor programs.
- Consulting Services: Business analysis. Operational improvement. Strategic planning.
- Young Farmer Programs: Next-generation support. Beginning farmer resources. Mentorship.
- Sustainability Initiatives: Environmental stewardship. Net zero goals. Consumer trust building.
Ideal For
Farm Types: Commercial dairy farms seeking reliable marketing, All production systems
Competitive Advantages
What sets Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) apart from alternatives:
- $23 billion annual revenue—largest U.S. dairy cooperative
- 12,500+ farmer-owners nationwide
- Diversified manufacturing creates demand
- Producer services beyond milk marketing
- Scale provides market access assurance
- Cooperative ownership returns value to farmers
- Regional structure with local management
- National presence in all 50 states
- Strong financial position (BBB credit rating)
- Brands include Borden, Kemps
Pricing Information
Here is the pricing information for Dairy Farmers of America (DFA):
Base milk price plus quality premiums of $0.50-2.00/cwt. Patronage dividends typically $0.15-0.40/cwt.
Pricing Model: Cooperative milk marketing with patronage
Prices verified Q1 2024. Actual returns vary by market conditions and cooperative performance.
Pros & Considerations
- Largest U.S. dairy cooperative
- National reach and market power
- Diversified manufacturing
- Member programs and services
- Market influence and stability
- Large organization complexity
- Commodity market exposure
- Regional differences in service
- Membership requirements
Implementation & Setup
How to implement Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) on your dairy operation:
Implementation Timeline: Membership application to milk pickup typically weeks to months depending on location and capacity.
Training & Support
Training and support options available for Dairy Farmers of America (DFA):
Evaluation Questions
Key questions to consider when evaluating Dairy Farmers of America (DFA):
- Does DFA serve my geographic area?
- Can I meet DFA quality standards?
- Would producer services benefit my operation?
- How does DFA pricing compare to alternatives?
- Do I value cooperative ownership structure?