Maryland & Virginia and Dairy.com Simplify Milk Ordering for Processors with Collaborative Milk Scheduling Software.

RESTON, Va. -- Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative, in conjunction with Dairy.com, has just made it easier for processors to order and schedule milk deliveries thanks to Collaborative Milk Scheduling(TM) (CMS), a new Internet-based program that brings milk supply chain management into the electronic age.

Breaking through technology barriers, CMS provides processors with the ability to plan milk orders based on consumption, to receive real-time tanker truckload schedules, and to share and compare milk quality data using a standard Internet browser. Milk schedules and updates are published in real-time views for customers, plants, haulers and agency partners each to utilize.

CMS has features unique to moving milk, including rejected load handling, stair-stepping and assigning extra loads to balancing plants. The software platform integrates directly into any milk payroll system and enables customers to plan and order in units they prefer, be it loads, gallons, pounds or cans, while CMS makes the appropriate conversions.

Maryland & Virginia's Logistics Department worked closely for two years with Dairy.com staff to develop a complete software platform that fully addresses the needs of dairy cooperatives and their customers. "Managing the milk supply chain is fundamental to our business and meeting our customers' needs is paramount," said Maryland & Virginia's General Manager Jay Bryant. "Our customers want a streamlined process to plan, administer and manage milk orders and quality. CMS gives us that ability to better serve our customers, which we believe will translate into increased sales and lower costs for us all."

Traditionally, it has been impossible to share information across the milk supply chain network because of each entity's independent milk management systems. CMS bridges the gap by providing a secure, Internet-based schedule that the industry can share to perform their designated functions. "Dairy.com is thrilled to provide a solution that enhances each player's role in milk flow management and we appreciate Maryland & Virginia's commitment to CMS and guidance during its creation," said Scott Sexton, Dairy.com CEO.

Dairy.com handles CMS configuration and hosting responsibilities. The implementation process takes just a few short weeks, typically with no new hardware or software required.

About Maryland & Virginia

Owned and operated by 1,500 dairy farm families from Pennsylvania to Georgia, Maryland & Virginia is a milk marketing and processing cooperative providing consumers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. with fresh milk and dairy products. Maryland & Virginia owns and operates three fluid processing plants; Marva Maid of Newport News, Va., Marva Maid of Landover, Md., and Maola Milk and Ice Cream Company in New Bern, N.C.; a manufacturing plant in Laurel, Md.; and an equipment warehouse business in Frederick, Md. The cooperative is also majority owner of a second manufacturing plant, Valley Milk LLC located in Strasburg, Va.

About Dairy.com

With member companies representing a majority of annual U.S. dairy sales, Dairy.com is the leading provider of Internet-powered solutions to the dairy industry. Dairy.com was founded as an independent, neutral exchange by a broad consortium of dairy industry organizations including: Dairy Farmers of America; The Dannon Company (NYSE:DA); Dean Foods (NYSE:DF); Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream (Nasdaq:DRYR); Kraft Foods (NYSE:KFT); Land O' Lakes; Leprino Foods; and, Schreiber Foods. Dairy.com provides comprehensive transaction and trading facilitation services, including scheduling, spot trading, contracting and transportation for a broad variety of dairy commodities. Dairy.com also provides technology infrastructure for dairy cooperatives.