Michigan dairy farmers approve continuation referendum

LANSING — Michigan’s dairy producers have approved a referendum to continue the Michigan Dairy Market Program for Grade “A” milk.

History

Established in January 1983, the Michigan Dairy Market Program was developed to promote the sale of milk and milk products produced within the state of Michigan and to increase consumer knowledge and acceptance of milk and milk products in general.

The program will continue for an additional five years beginning Jan. 1. The current state program assessment is $.10 per hundredweight of Michigan Grade “A” milk.

Votes

A total of 603 ballots were cast in the referendum. Of those, 549 producers voted yes (91 percent), representing 2,775,896,230.55 pounds (89 percent of the production volume represented) and 54 producers voted no (9 percent) representing 349,501,836.83 pounds (11 percent of the production volume represented).

For renewal of the program and its activities, more than 50 percent of the voting producers, representing more than 50 percent of the pounds sold by those voting, must have approved it.