Michigan dairy producers will receive a ballot in the mail next week to vote on whether to continue a statewide marketing and educational program promoting milk.
Public Act 232, which must be renewed every year, provides funding toward advertising dairy products and nutrition education in schools and throughout the state.
Michigan Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Sara Linsmeier-Wurfel said the agriculture industry contributes $37 billion annually to the state's economy.
"The dairy industry is the biggest segment of our agricultural economy in the state," she said.
She added that the Michigan Dairy Market Program made possible by the act is designed to be a flexible option for area dairy producers.
"These producers vote whether or not to assess themselves to promote their product," she said.
The act keeps 10 cents of the 15-cent federal promotion assessment levied per 100 pounds of Grade A milk within the state.
Michigan Milk Producers Association President Elwood Kirkpatrick said the program is beneficial to the state's dairy producers because "it promotes our own product here at home."
According to Kirkpatrick, rather than having all of the funding toward the national marketing campaign, a portion of those funds are able to be used toward local advertising and programs.
"We have a program going on right now where we are subsidizing milk dispensing machines in the schools to compete with Coke beverages," he said.
Kirkpatrick said the program has been a success, with machines placed in more than 200 schools.
"I am a producer also, and I strongly support it," he said.
Veterinary medicine graduate student Misty Vore said she agrees that advertising promotes the program.
"I think it is a good thing to promote the sale of milk," she said.
"They have to be able to afford to pay for us to come out and take care for their animals," she said. "If they are not getting paid enough for the milk, they can't afford it."
MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center herdsman Bruce Kurzhals also said advertising is effective.
"I'm sure research has shown that commercials are going to increase sales if the product is shown in a positive light," he said.
