The Milk Section's mission is to ensure dairy producers and dairy processing plants meet all state and federal regulatory requirements, including participation in the Interstate Milk Shippers’ program for producers and plants shipping interstate. This is accomplished through onsite inspection of dairy farms, Grade A and Grade B plants, collection of raw and finished products for laboratory evaluation and  quarterly testing of pasteurization equipment.

Milk section personnel investigate consumer complaints and outbreaks of disease related to dairy products as well as provides consultative services to sanitarians, businesses and citizens throughout the State.

The DAIRY PROGRAM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Licensing and Inspection of Dairy Farms and Plants
• Inspection of Milk Tankers
• Interstate Milk Shippers Survey Program (IMS)
• Sampling and Testing of Dairy Products
• Investigation of Dairy related Complaints
• Testing of Pasteurizers
• Technical Assistance on dairy related issues
• Equipment review

MILK PRODUCER LICENSE

A Milk Producer is a person or organization who operates a dairy farm and provides, sells, or offers milk for sale to a milk processing plant, receiving station, or transfer station.  Every Milk Producer must obtain a license to operate.  A Milk Producer's license is not transferable with respect to persons or locations or both.

Please read the New Producer Letter and the 2019 Pasteurized Milk Ordinance Section 1r-19r.

"It is not the intent of the Montana Department of Livestock to list each requirement or recommendation nor spell out in detail each requirement for Grade A  dairy farm, but rather serve as a guide in planning the basic facilities.  If you have any questions or would like to start the permitting process, your first call should be to the Meat Milk and Egg Bureau at 406-444-5202 or email MMEIOffice@mt.gov." 

Milk Control Board Assessments

Per 81-23-202, MCA, producers must pay monthly assessments as described in ARM 32.2.406.

Small dairy operations as defined in the Mt Local Food Choice Act are exempt from licensing requirements. 

Please read the New Plant Letter.

GRADE A & GRADE B DAIRY PLANT LICENSE

A Milk Processing Plant is a place, premises, or establishment where milk or milk products are collected, handled, processed, stored, bottled, pasteurized, aseptically processed, or prepared for distribution, except an establishment that merely receives the processed milk products and serves them or sells them at retail.

A Milk Processing Plant must obtain an annual Milk Processing Plant license. A Milk Processing Plant may choose to process (1) Grade A milk and milk products, or (2) Grade B manufactured dairy products.

PMO Grade A Plants
USDA Grade B Plants

"It is not the intent of the Montana Department of Livestock to list each requirement or recommendation nor spell out in detail each requirement for Grade A  dairy farm, but rather serve as a guide in planning the basic facilities.  If you have any questions or would like to start the permitting process, your first call should be to the Meat Milk and Egg Bureau at 406-444-5202 or email MMEIOffice@mt.gov." 

Milk Control Board Assessments

Per 81-23-202, MCA, plants must pay monthly assessments as described in ARM 32.2.406.

If a producer and plant are vertically integrated, only one fee is paid.

BULK MILK TRANSPORT

A Bulk Milk Hauler is a person or company who transports milk or milk products in bulk to or from a milk processing plant, receiving station, or transfer station.
A Bulk Milk Hauler's license is not transferable with respect to persons or locations or both.
Contact your sanitarian to begin the licensing process.

• Bulk Milk Hauler Study Guide
• Industry Plant Sampler Study Guide
  • Wisconsin Milk Hauler Video
  • Kansas Milk Hauler Video