As a result of a membership drive that Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) initiated in early December to boost participation in the program during the next two years, membership forms have now been received from 22 of CWT’s 2009-2010 members.
Seven new cooperative members also signed up, including First District Association; Magic Valley Quality Milk Producers, Inc.; Midwest Dairymen’s Company; Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.; Premier Milk Inc.; Southeast Milk Inc.; and Swiss Valley Farms. These 29 cooperatives put CWT participation at over 60% of the national milk supply, close to its goal of signing up at least 75% of the nation’s milk in order to fully fund a robust Export Assistance program.
The seven new cooperative members opting to participate in the program “are a very positive sign,” said Jim Tillison, Chief Operating Officer, who indicated that with the holidays over and cooperatives getting back to more normal meeting schedules, the 75% participation rate should be reached by the end of January.
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