The producer-payment security a Michigan milk plant provides to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) so the dairy farmers who ship to it get paid. Pricing is 1% of the bond amount MDARD sets, $100 minimum — your exact price appears at the 60-second application. A quick soft credit check may apply — never a hard inquiry, no impact on your score.
















Producer-security bonds may run one soft credit pull, then issue. Here is the whole thing:
Your plant details, the security amount MDARD set, and the effective date — plus consent to a soft credit check if one applies. That is the application, and your exact price shows up at the end.
Most of these clear quickly; if underwriting needs anything on a larger amount, you hear from an underwriter within 48 hours. Any credit check that runs is a soft pull that never affects your score.
Receive the executed bond on the form MDARD accepts, ready to submit to the Lansing office before shipments are received. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the department insists.
Michigan regulates milk plants through MDARD under the Manufacturing Milk Law and the Grade A dairy program. A milk plant that buys raw milk from producers must post producer security — most commonly a surety bond — so the dairy farmers who ship to it are protected against a default in payment.
The bond is payable to MDARD on a form it provides or accepts, and is conditioned on the faithful and proper discharge of the plant's duty to pay producers when payment is due. It is continuous and cancellable only on at least 90 days' written notice to MDARD.
The amount is set by the department — generally the value of your greatest 30-day milk receipts in your most recent fiscal year, or the greatest 30-day receipts anticipated in the licensing period, whichever is greater. Enter that figure and apply; your price is 1% of that amount, $100 minimum, with a soft credit check that never affects your score.
These are the actual underwriting fields, including consent to a soft credit check that never affects your score. Enter the security amount MDARD set and submit.
Start the application →If yours isn't here, the bond team can usually answer within the hour.
Five-minute application, priced at 1% of the bond amount, $100 minimum. Enter the amount MDARD set and file before shipments start.