CALIFORNIA DAIRY GROUP TO MERGE WITH MID-AMERICAN DAIRYMEN

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The State Dairy Association of Corona, Calif., will merge into the milk marketing operations of the Mid-American Dairymen here.

was a goal of both of our boards when we entered into the management agreement," said Case Van Der Eyk Sr., president of SDA. "Our members are pleased with the job Mid-Am has done in marketing our milk and we are confident that we can further strengthen our position by becoming a part of the Mid-Am organization."

Carl Baumann, Mid-Am president, a dairy farmer from Highland, Ill., said the industry is undergoing major geographic and structural changes.

"While Mid-Am remains committed to its traditional membership areas of the Midwest, this merger recognizes the shift in milk production and assures that Mid-Am members throughout the system are in a position to take advantage of market opportunities throughout the nation and the world market."

Mid-Am has more than 13,000 members in 17 states.