New Dairy Processor Helps Michigan Reduce Surplus

Foremost Farms USA plans to build a new dairy processing facility in Greenville, Michigan.

It was announced on Nov. 9 that Foremost Farms had purchased a 96 acre plot of land in Western Michigan. Foremost Farms plans to build a plant that would process up to six million lb. of milk daily.

It is planned for the plant in Greenville to process milk solids. The plant is slated to be operational in the next 12 to 14 months.

Foremost Farms’ President and CEO Michael Doyle believes the processing plant will help unify the seven state cooperative that members in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The cooperative primarily has processing in plants in Wisconsin with seven cheese plants, three ingredients plants and a butter plant. Another ingredients plant is located in Minnesota.

“It is our goal to continue to work with our strategic partners/alliances like we have established in the region with Michigan Milk Producers Association at Constantine, Mich., to maximize dairy farmer investments, stabilize the regional milk market and add value for all producers in this market, Doyle says.

The plant’s location is within a 30 miles of the center of Foremost Farms’ cooperative members in Michigan.

As noted by Dairy Herd Management in this month’s magazine, according to Chris Wolf, an economist with Michigan State University, dairy farmers are producing about 33 million lb. of milk per day in Michigan. The state currently only has processing capacity for 26 million lb. per day. The Foremost Farms plants should help make up the processing shortfall.

“Our board of directors is looking forward to seeing this project become a reality. The move effectively incorporates our Michigan member milk production into our core manufacturing business with a path to growth and stability in the region and for all Foremost Farms members, says Foremost Farms’ Chairman Dave Scheevel.

The project must receive approval from local and state incentives and support, including a long-term wastewater treatment solution.

Foremost Farms is the eighth largest dairy cooperative in the U.S. and has approximately 1,400 dairy farmer members.

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