Dairy Farmers of America
A farmer-owned U.S. dairy cooperative that markets members' milk and produces dairy foods, ingredients, and shelf-stable products.
Last updated October 22, 2026
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Overview
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is a national milk-marketing cooperative owned by dairy farmers in the United States. Established in 1998 through the combination of four regional dairy cooperatives, DFA was created to give participating producers a larger, coordinated organization for marketing raw milk and operating dairy-processing businesses. Its core role is to collect and market members' milk, while its manufacturing and commercial activities extend across fluid milk, cheese, butter, milk powders, dairy ingredients, food components, and shelf-stable dairy products. The cooperative model distinguishes DFA from a conventional publicly traded food company. Its farmer members supply the milk and collectively own the organization, while DFA manages marketing, processing, customer relationships, logistics, and branded or private-label product businesses. The cooperative sells to wholesale customers in the United States and abroad, including food manufacturers, retailers, foodservice buyers, and other commercial users of dairy products. Through its processing network and acquired businesses, DFA participates in both consumer-facing dairy categories and the business-to-business ingredients market. DFA's founding organization was assembled from the Southern region of Associated Milk Producers Inc., Mid-America Dairymen Inc., Milk Marketing Inc., and Western Dairymen Cooperative Inc. It subsequently expanded its cooperative base and operating footprint through the addition of Independent Cooperative Milk Producers Association, Valley of Virginia Milk Producers Association, California Cooperative Creamery, Black Hills Milk Producers, and Dairylea Cooperative Inc. This consolidation helped create a national milk-marketing platform rather than a collection of narrowly regional cooperatives. The organization has also grown through acquisitions and ownership changes in processing. Important transactions have included the acquisition of Kemps and related businesses from HP Hood in 2011, the acquisition of Oakhurst in 2014, the combination with Dairylea Cooperative in 2014, the purchase of full ownership of DairiConcepts in 2015, and the acquisition of Cumberland Dairy in 2017. In 2020, DFA agreed to acquire Dean Foods' business in a transaction involving 44 plants; the deal was completed in May of that year after Dean Foods entered bankruptcy proceedings. DFA's portfolio has included brands and businesses such as Borden, Kemps, and Tuscan, although its activities are broader than branded retail milk. The cooperative also supplies dairy ingredients and industrial products whose customers may use them in prepared foods, beverages, confectionery, nutrition products, and other manufactured goods. Its strategic position therefore spans the dairy supply chain, from farmer-member milk production to processing and wholesale distribution. DFA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, and remains a private, farmer-owned cooperative. Public reference material describes it as one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the United States. Its scale gives members access to national marketing and processing capabilities, while the cooperative structure keeps dairy producers at the center of ownership and governance.
History
Dairy Farmers of America was formed in 1998 as a national milk-marketing cooperative. Its creation brought together four established cooperative organizations: the Southern region of Associated Milk Producers Inc., Mid-America Dairymen Inc., Milk Marketing Inc., and Western Dairymen Cooperative Inc. The merger reflected a broader effort to give dairy farmers greater collective scale in negotiating milk markets, coordinating transportation, and investing in processing and marketing infrastructure. DFA's principal business is the marketing of raw milk produced by its farmer members. Rather than functioning only as a sales agency, however, the cooperative developed a broad processing and manufacturing platform. It markets fluid milk and manufactures or distributes cheese, butter, milk powders, dairy ingredients, food components, and shelf-stable dairy products. These goods are sold to wholesale customers in domestic and international markets, making DFA both a supplier to consumer brands and an industrial dairy-ingredients company. After its formation, DFA expanded its membership and geographic reach through the integration of additional cooperatives. Independent Cooperative Milk Producers Association, Valley of Virginia Milk Producers Association, California Cooperative Creamery, Black Hills Milk Producers, and Dairylea Cooperative Inc. subsequently became part of the organization. Dairylea's combination with DFA in 2014 was particularly significant because it further strengthened the cooperative's national structure. The organization also used acquisitions to enlarge its processing and branded-product activities. In 2011, DFA acquired Kemps of St. Paul, Minnesota, and its subsidiaries from HP Hood. In 2014, it acquired Oakhurst. In 2015, DFA became the sole owner of DairiConcepts, a business that had previously been operated as a partnership between DFA and Fonterra Co-operative Group. In 2017, it acquired Cumberland Dairy, a processor specializing in ultra-pasteurized dairy products. These transactions expanded DFA beyond the aggregation and marketing of members' milk and into a more extensive network of consumer and industrial processing operations. DFA's headquarters were located near Kansas City International Airport from the cooperative's creation through 2017. The organization is associated with Kansas City, Missouri, and continues to operate as a private farmer-owned cooperative rather than a publicly listed company. Its portfolio has included consumer brands such as Borden, Kemps, and Tuscan, alongside unbranded and business-to-business dairy products. DFA has also faced regulatory scrutiny. In 2008, the cooperative and two former executives agreed to a $12 million settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission over allegations involving attempted manipulation of the Class III milk futures contract and exceeding speculative position limits. The matter is distinct from the 1970s Milk Case, a political corruption scandal involving Associated Milk Producers Inc. and the Nixon administration before DFA existed; that historical episode concerns a predecessor cooperative and should not be treated as a scandal directly involving DFA as a 1998 organization. In 2020, DFA agreed to acquire Dean Foods for $433 million. Dean Foods was the largest U.S. milk producer at the time, and the transaction included 44 plants. The acquisition was completed in May 2020 and represented a major expansion of DFA's processing footprint. Through this combination of cooperative milk marketing, manufacturing, branded products, and ingredients, DFA occupies a broad position across the U.S. dairy supply chain.
- 2020
Dean Foods transaction is completed
[1]DFA completes its $433 million acquisition of Dean Foods, including 44 plants, in May 2020.
- 2017
Cumberland Dairy acquisition
[1]DFA acquires Cumberland Dairy, an ultra-pasteurized dairy processor.
- 2015
DFA becomes sole owner of DairiConcepts
[1]DFA takes full ownership of DairiConcepts, previously a partnership with Fonterra Co-operative Group.
- 2014
Oakhurst acquisition and Dairylea combination
[1]DFA acquires Oakhurst, while Dairylea Cooperative Inc. combines with the farmer-owned cooperative.
- 2011
Acquisition of Kemps
[1]DFA acquires Kemps of St. Paul, Minnesota, and its subsidiaries from HP Hood.
- 1998
Dairy Farmers of America is formed
[1]DFA is established through the merger of the Southern region of Associated Milk Producers Inc., Mid-America Dairymen Inc., Milk Marketing Inc., and Western Dairymen Cooperative Inc.
Products and positioning
Farmer-owned, vertically integrated dairy cooperative serving both consumer and industrial markets.
Dairy beverage
Fluid milk
Fluid milk is one of DFA's central product categories. The cooperative markets milk supplied by farmer members and processes it for wholesale, retail, foodservice, and branded distribution. Its milk activities include both branded and private-label channels, supported by processing assets and regional dairy businesses.
Dairy food
Cheese
DFA produces and markets cheese for retail, foodservice, and industrial customers. Cheese is part of the cooperative's broader manufacturing platform, which converts member milk into consumer foods and ingredients used by other food businesses.
Dairy fat
Butter
Butter is among the dairy products handled by DFA's processing and marketing operations. It can be supplied through wholesale and food-manufacturing channels in addition to consumer-oriented distribution.
Dairy ingredient
Milk powders
Milk powders and related dry dairy products extend DFA's business into shelf-stable and industrial applications. These products are marketed as ingredients and components for commercial food production as well as for broader dairy supply-chain needs.
Food ingredient
Dairy ingredients
DFA supplies dairy ingredients and food components to wholesale buyers and food manufacturers. This business complements branded dairy products by serving customers that incorporate milk-derived materials into prepared foods, beverages, and other formulations.
Dairy brand
Borden
Borden is one of the consumer dairy brands associated with DFA's broader portfolio. The brand operates within the cooperative's branded milk and dairy-products activities rather than representing the full scope of DFA's farmer-member marketing and ingredient operations.
Dairy brand
Kemps
Kemps is a regional dairy brand acquired by DFA from HP Hood in 2011. It forms part of DFA's consumer-facing portfolio and is associated with milk and other dairy products sold through retail and related channels.
Dairy brand
Tuscan
Tuscan is a dairy brand included in DFA's branded portfolio. It represents the cooperative's participation in packaged consumer dairy alongside its larger wholesale, processing, and ingredient businesses.
Controversies
2021
DFA and Food Lion settle antitrust lawsuit
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Food Lion, and the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that DFA’s purchase of milk production facilities from Dean Foods constituted illegal antitrust activity. The settlement terms were not public.
2020
Justice Department and state authorities file antitrust suit against DFA
The Justice Department's Antitrust Division, Wisconsin's attorney general and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Dairy Farmers of America to block its acquisition of three processing plants in regions where ownership could give DFA substantial market power.
2008
Class III milk futures settlement
DFA and two former executives agreed to pay $12 million to settle Commodity Futures Trading Commission charges alleging attempted manipulation of the Class III milk futures contract and excess speculative positions. The settlement is the principal regulatory controversy directly identified in the reference material for DFA.
Brand decisions
2020
Acquisition of Dean FoodsM&ABackground
Dean Foods entered financial distress, creating an opportunity for DFA to expand its U.S. milk-processing network.
Action taken
DFA agreed to purchase Dean Foods for $433 million, with the transaction covering 44 plants, and completed the acquisition in May 2020.
Aftermath
The completed transaction significantly expanded DFA's processing footprint.
Acquisition price. $433 million (2020 transaction)
2017
Acquisition of Cumberland DairyM&ABackground
DFA continued expanding its specialized dairy-processing capabilities.
Action taken
DFA acquired Cumberland Dairy, a processor of ultra-pasteurized dairy products.
Aftermath
The acquisition added ultra-pasteurized processing capacity to DFA's operations.
2015
Full ownership of DairiConceptsM&ABackground
DairiConcepts had previously operated as a partnership between DFA and Fonterra Co-operative Group.
Action taken
DFA became DairiConcepts' sole owner.
Aftermath
The change gave DFA complete ownership of the related dairy-ingredient business.
2014
Oakhurst acquisition and Dairylea combinationM&ABackground
DFA continued to consolidate dairy cooperative membership and processing operations.
Action taken
DFA acquired Oakhurst, and Dairylea Cooperative Inc. merged with DFA.
Aftermath
The moves broadened DFA's national cooperative and branded-dairy footprint.
2011
Purchase of Kemps from HP HoodM&ABackground
DFA sought to expand its consumer dairy and regional processing presence.
Action taken
DFA acquired Kemps of St. Paul, Minnesota, and its subsidiaries from HP Hood.
Aftermath
The transaction added Kemps and related operations to DFA's branded and processing portfolio.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
OvaInnovations acquires Adrian dairy plant[5]
Reported:
Crimson Holdings LLC, operated by OvaInnovations, acquired the Dairy Farmers of America plant in Adrian, Michigan. The facility was to switch from dairy to egg products.
- Unconfirmed
Bel Brands USA and DFA work on milk-cooling pilot[6]
Reported:
Bel Brands USA and Dairy Farmers of America will support a 12-month pilot at an Iowa dairy farm supplying milk to Bel Brands, including Bel co-financing an energy-efficient milk-cooling system.
DFA and Food Lion settle antitrust lawsuit[4]
Reported:
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), Food Lion, and the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that DFA’s purchase of milk production facilities from Dean Foods constituted illegal antitrust activity. The settlement terms were not public.
Dairy Farmers of America completes Dean Foods acquisition[3]
Reported:
Dairy Farmers of America closed its acquisition of substantially all of Dean Foods’ assets, including 44 facilities, on May 1. The acquisition followed a proposed antitrust settlement that required divestiture of three facilities.
Justice Department and state authorities file antitrust suit against DFA[3]
Reported:
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Wisconsin’s attorney general and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Dairy Farmers of America to block its acquisition of three processing plants in regions where ownership could give DFA substantial market power.
DFA agrees to acquire Dean Foods assets[7]
Reported:
The Dairy Farmers of America agreed to acquire 44 Dean Foods plants and facilities for $425 million. The transaction remained subject to approvals, including from the bankruptcy court and the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Unconfirmed
Dean Foods agrees to sell 44 factories to DFA[8]
Reported:
Dean Foods reached a $425 million deal to sell 44 milk factories to the Dairy Farmers of America; the court-supervised asset sale requires bankruptcy court approval.
Sources8 sources
- 1Dairy Farmers of Americaen.wikipedia.org
- 2Dairy Farmers of America official websitedfamilk.com
- 3Justice Department and state authorities file antitrust suit against DFAcapitalpress.com
- 4DFA and Food Lion settle antitrust lawsuitlawstreetmedia.com
- 5OvaInnovations 收购 Adrian 乳品工厂lenconnect.com
- 6Bel Brands USA与DFA开展牛奶冷却试点dairyreporter.com
- 7DFA同意收购Dean Foods资产finance.sina.com.cn
- 8Dean Foods同意向美国奶农协会出售44家工厂tech.sina.com.cn
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