What Dairy Management does

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) is a non-profit industry checkoff organization founded in 1984 under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983 and headquartered in Rosemont, Illinois. DMI is funded by mandatory checkoff contributions from approximately 31,000 to 37,000 U.S. dairy farmers and dairy importers, and operates four principal subsidiaries: the National Dairy Council (science-based nutrition research and education), the American Dairy Association (farmer representation), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (international market development), and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy (industry-wide sustainability and food safety frameworks). The organization's mission is to build trust in and demand for U.S. dairy products through coordinated research, education, and innovation programs.

DMI's core deliverables are programmatic rather than product-based, with the active portfolio including the Funding Opportunities Database within the Dairy Conservation Navigator (a free searchable grant aggregation platform for dairy farmers launched 2026-03), the 2026 schedule of food safety workshops for dairy manufacturers, the Fuel Up to Play 60 in-school wellness initiative, the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards, and the annual New Product Competition for university students. Underlying technology is limited to web-based content distribution, grant-database platforms, and digital marketing channels (usdairy.com, social media, webinars); the organization does not sell commercial products and does not develop proprietary AI/ML systems, with technical differentiation centered on integration of federal, state, and private funding data sources for the Conservation Navigator.

DMI's revenue model is a federally mandated per-hundredweight assessment collected from milk producers and an equivalent fee on dairy imports, channeled through the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) and co-administered with the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA), a federation of state and regional dairy promotion organizations. The organization is governed by a farmer-majority board (Marilyn Hershey as Chair, Barbara O'Brien as CEO since October 2021) and operates with a public-mission mandate rather than profit orientation, with approximately 101-250 employees supporting nationwide and international programs.

Name

Dairy Management

Legal name

Dairy Management, Inc.

Website

https://usdairy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Dairy Management Inc. is a non-profit checkoff organization funded by approximately 31,000 U.S. dairy farmers and importers. It operates the National Dairy Council, U.S. Dairy Export Council, and Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to build dairy demand via research, education, and innovation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Industry Promotion

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Milking Parlor & Dairy Farm Support Services (Non-veterinary) (AFAEALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dairy Farm Data, Monitoring & Precision Dairy Operations (AFAEACAO)

Keywords

• Dairy industry promotion
• Checkoff program management
• Dairy nutrition research
• Agricultural marketing services
• Dairy sustainability programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Illinois City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Dairy Checkoff Program: Dairy Management Inc. is funded by America's dairy farmers and dairy importers through the dairy checkoff program. The checkoff was created by American dairy farmers to build trust in and sales of dairy, funded by the nation's dairy farm families and those that import dairy into the U.S.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) operates the national dairy checkoff program, funded by approximately 31,000 U.S. dairy farmers and dairy importers through mandatory contributions. The organization works to build trust in and increase sales of dairy products through coordinated research, education, marketing, and innovation programs across the dairy supply chain. It manages the National Dairy Council, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, and the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

Product overview

Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) operates as a unified portfolio of dairy promotion and research organizations, primarily consisting of the dairy checkoff program, National Dairy Council, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, and related initiatives. The core offerings include the Funding Opportunities Database within the Dairy Conservation Navigator for farmers seeking grants, Food Safety Workshops for dairy manufacturers, the U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards program, and the New Product Competition for student innovation. The portfolio also includes the Fuel Up to Play 60 school nutrition program and National Dairy Board Scholarships. These products work together to increase demand for dairy through research, education, innovation, and sustainability initiatives while maintaining confidence in dairy foods, farms and businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dairy Conservation Navigator: Online platform providing conservation resources and funding opportunity database for dairy farmers
• Fuel Up to Play 60
• GENYOUth
• Dairy Sustainability Alliance
• U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards

Products and services

• Dairy Checkoff Program
• Dairy Conservation Navigator
• Food Safety Workshops
• Fuel Up to Play 60
• U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards
• New Product Competition
• National Dairy Board Scholarship

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of U.S. households purchase dairy products
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUDIA is a federation of state and regional dairy farmer-funded promotion organizations. DMI is co-funded by UDIA and together they implement national dairy checkoff strategies and programs.
• National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 37-member NDB, formed under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983, carries out coordinated promotion and research programs to build dairy demand and expand domestic and international markets.
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy signed a Memorandum of Understanding to continue working toward the dairy industry's 2050 environmental sustainability goals.
• Innovation Center for U.S. DairyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry-led effort founded by DMI to ensure an economically viable, socially responsible U.S. dairy community. Led by CEO Barbara O'Brien. Coordinates sustainability frameworks and food safety training.
• GENYOUthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMI works with GENYOUth, led by CEO Ann Marie Krautheim, on youth wellness initiatives including Fuel Up to Play 60. The organization helps feed the nation's children through school nutrition programs.
• U.S. Dairy Export CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMI-founded organization focused on international market development for U.S. dairy products. Part of the fifth operating committee consolidating oversight of exports, Global Innovation Partnerships, and 'Next 5%' export plan.
• The Udder TruthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConsumer education initiative helping educate people about dairy farming practices and how food is produced.
• Academy of Nutrition and DieteticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Dairy Council manages relationships with this key health organization. Katie Brown serves as chief global strategy nutrition officer for the Academy and leads the Future of Food initiative.
• Feeding AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Dairy Council partners with Feeding America to address food insecurity and provide nutritious dairy foods through food banks and charitable feeding systems.
• Environmental Defense FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSuzy Friedman serves as Sustainable Agriculture Director, representing EDF in dairy sustainability partnerships.
• World Wildlife FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSandra Vijn from World Wildlife Fund contributes to dairy sustainability initiatives and environmental stewardship programs.
• International Dairy Foods AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMI engages with IDFA as part of shared industry priorities including health and wellness, environmental stewardship, innovation and technology, and workforce development.
• MilkPEPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMI collaborates with Milk Processor Education Program as part of shared industry priorities and coordinated dairy marketing efforts.
• Dairy Sustainability FrameworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational framework facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration on environmental, economic, and social sustainability factors across the dairy sector.
• American Dairy Association MideastcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional dairy checkoff organization. Ann Marie Krautheim spent 10 years with ADA Mideast before leading GENYOUth.
• National Milk Producers FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMPF co-hosts the Joint Annual Meeting with NDB and UDIA for dairy checkoff leadership governance.
• American Academy of PediatricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAAP worked with National Dairy Council to develop baby feeding guides to help parents understand when to introduce foods to children.
• Local Food BankscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDairy community works with local food banks across the country to provide nutritious dairy foods and support charitable feeding systems.
• Local SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDairy community supports school meals programs and partners with schools for youth nutrition and wellness initiatives including Fuel Up to Play 60.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Pork Board: Federally-authorized checkoff organization for U.S. pork producers with a near-identical structure to DMI: funded by mandatory producer checkoff, manages research/promotion/education, and operates consumer-facing programs (e.g., Pork Checkoff, Pork Be Inspired). Directly comparable in mandate, governance, and funding model.
• National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF): Federation of U.S. dairy cooperatives that co-hosts the Joint Annual Meeting with DMI's NDB and UDIA. Represents dairy farmer cooperatives on policy and economics; a closely aligned governance peer within the dairy promotion ecosystem.
• Almond Board of California: Federal marketing order-backed commodity board for California almonds that funds nutrition research and consumer promotion under a structure parallel to DMI's checkoff. Notably competes with dairy in the plant-based beverage category.
• Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP): National fluid milk processor-funded promotion program that DMI explicitly collaborates with on coordinated dairy marketing. Operates a parallel but processor-funded checkoff for fluid milk, focused on consumer demand generation - a closely adjacent peer.
• Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board (Beef Checkoff): The national beef checkoff program operating under the Beef Promotion and Research Act - a structurally identical USDA-authorized checkoff model to DMI's dairy checkoff. Operates with parallel farmer funding, research/promotion mandate, and state council federation.
• American Egg Board: USDA-authorized checkoff organization for U.S. egg producers with the same federal-legislation-backed mandatory producer funding model as DMI. Conducts nutrition research, consumer education, and promotion on behalf of a defined producer base.
• United Soybean Board: USDA-authorized soybean checkoff organization with a farmer-funded research/promotion/education mandate nearly identical in structure to DMI. Notable for representing a commodity that competes with dairy in protein and beverage markets.

Broad incumbents

• International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA): The broader U.S. dairy industry trade association representing processors, manufacturers, and marketers. DMI engages IDFA as a core strategic partner on shared industry priorities. Different in that IDFA is a processor trade group rather than a farmer-funded checkoff.
• National Cattlemen's Beef Association: Larger and broader industry association for the U.S. cattle/beef sector that complements (rather than administers) the Beef Checkoff. Comparable to DMI's positioning as the industry-coordination arm of the U.S. beef sector with policy and member-services scope beyond pure promotion.

Emerging players

• Plant Based Foods Association: Trade association representing plant-based food manufacturers, including dairy alternatives (oat, almond, soy milks). Operates as a promotion and policy counterpart to DMI in the contested plant-vs-animal-protein category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DairyGood
• Facebookfacebook.com/DairyGood

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dairy Management