NMC Awards Programs

NMC: The Global Milk Quality Organization​ offers three awards programs that recognize the best of the best in their respective fields – National Dairy Quality Awards, NMC Award of Excellence and NMC Scholars.

The National Dairy Quality Awards (NDQA) program recognizes the very best in quality milk production. This program’s goal is to honor dairy producers from across the United States who have successfully placed high priority on producing milk of the highest quality. Dairy plant field staff, veterinarians, extension specialists and DHI supervisors nominate worthy dairy producers for this award. NDQA judges evaluate nominated dairy farms for measures of milk quality, systems of monitoring udder health, milking routine, protocols for detection and treatment of clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis, treatment protocols and strategies for overall herd health and animal welfare.

The Award of Excellence for Contribution to Mastitis Prevention and Control is awarded annually to an active NMC member for sustained contribution to mastitis prevention and control through research, extension or education, clinical practice or service to dairy producers. The award, open to the global NMC membership, consists of a recognition award, $2,500 honorarium and a travel stipend to attend the NMC Annual Meeting.

The NMC Scholars program recognizes four outstanding graduate students interested in controlling mastitis, promoting udder health and improving milk quality. Recipients earn an expense-paid trip to attend the NMC Annual Meeting. At least two NMC Scholars are students enrolled as graduate students in a university or college outside of the United States and Canada. Typically, these students are studying dairy, animal or veterinary science or microbiology, with an interest in mastitis control and quality milk production.