| Since July 1, 2016: | The producer investment through the 10 cent per cwt check-off is utilized to increase dairy product sales through promotion, education, and research. A key area of focus is supporting and increasing access and sales of dairy in schools. Over the past 3 years, check-off has invested $73,716 in nine dairy projects in Nebraska schools to impact incremental dairy sales. Programs include alternative breakfast delivery models such as grab n go or breakfast in the classroom which reach more students with breakfast which includes the offering of milk, and often yogurt or cheese. In addition, many schools have rolled out new dairy programs including smoothies, hot chocolate milk, as well as pizza ovens which promote cheese sales. Checkoff continues to offer grants and resources to schools to support both healthy eating and physical activity among youth through Fuel Up to Play 60. Since 2017, checkoff has awarded 32 schools grants totaling $65,269 to Nebraska schools to support alternative breakfast programs which reach more students with dairy, as well as farm to school programs to help students make a connection to where their food comes from.In addition to increasing sales, checkoff has focused on building consumer confidence through the industry- wide Undeniably Dairy program. Since 2016, checkoff has engaged with health professionals, interns, educators, school nutrition professionals, as well as local influencers to provide experiences from the dairy farm to the table. Each experience equips attendees with real experiences and communications that they use in interactions with clients, patients, and consumers.Since 2016, checkoff has focused on providing dairy educational resources to K-12 students through an online platform called Discover Dairy. Discover Dairy provides interactive user experiences connected to dairy, as well as ready to use curriculum for educators. Since 2017, 2,075 Nebraska students have participated in the Adopt a Cow program.Since 2016, checkoff has sponsored or delivered presentations to health professional audiences around the health benefits of dairy foods. Attendees include registered dietitians, family physicians, as well as school nutrition professionals, and undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in the health and wellness field.Since 2016, checkoff has collaborated with Food Bank for the Heartland in Nebraska on a campaign called Pints to Gallons with a goal of raising funds to support the purchase of milk and dairy foods for families in need. The campaign is provided to local schools and organizations who voluntarily participate to raise funds which go directly to the Food Bank. Since 2017, over $30,000 has been raised to purchase nutrient rich milk for Omaha families in need.Checkoff continues to invest in product and food safety research as they are of critical importance to the dairy industry. The funds awarded to the researchers are not only used to conduct research projects, but also to support graduate students who do the research as they make up for the future generation of dairy leaders. Since 2016, research projects have focused on controlling or eliminating spoilage causing microorganisms from high risk cheeses and on dairy processing equipment surfaces. There has been a strong need for non-thermal (without heat) processing from the processors which led to exploring Sonication (using sound waves) to kill microbes in dairy products. To achieve low microbial counts in dairy powders suitable for export market, it is very important to control the microbial count in raw milk at the farm. The University of Nebraska Lincoln is evaluating different farm interventions to study their effect on the microbial counts in raw milk. Apart from food safety research, checkoff has funded product research that focuses on extending the shelf life of dairy products, extending the potential of lactose and lactose rich ingredients by converting them into dietary fibers and other sweeteners, as well as exploring the functional and structure building properties of whey proteins. Any market beyond fluid milk has been possible because of science and research and checkoff plays an important role by investing in quality research and developing future dairy leaders. Checkoff continues to provide leadership experiences for young leaders who wish to have a career in the dairy industry or with agriculture in general. Since 2016, checkoff has provided leadership experiences for fifteen Dairy Ambassadors who are students enrolled full-time in a Nebraska post-secondary school. Ambassadors have engaged in communications trainings, dairy industry events, consumers events, as well as activities that reach various audiences through social engagement. |