Co-op breaks ground for new milk processing plant

High Desert Milk Inc. began construction of a new multimillion-dollar milk processing plant June 4 in Burley, Idaho.

When completed in early 2008, the plant will process more than 2 million pounds of milk per day into 65 million pounds of powdered milk per year.

High Desert Milk was formed in 2001 by six dairymen who wanted to increase their return per hundredweight of milk and provide a stable market for their milk. Currently, these same owners milk 22,000 cows and farm 30,000 acres in southern Idaho.

The cooperative has four divisions:

1. Pharmaceuticals and supplies
The co-op sell supplies needed for dairy or livestock operations.

2. Milk marketing
Milk is marketed to various processing plants in the area.

3. Plant manufacturing and milk processing

4. Organic milk production and marketing
Currently, one barn is producing organic milk with two more new barns under construction. Thousands of acres have been certified to raise organic feed. PD