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Dairy Defined

National Milk Producers Federation

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Dairy Defined

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FDA Inaction Makes DAIRY PRIDE Necessary, Sen. Baldwin Says

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) unwillingness to limit dairy terms to true dairy products makes passage of the DAIRY PRIDE Act more necessary than ever, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, said in a Dairy Defined podcast released today. “They're going to continue to allow mislabeled imitation products to be on the market,” Baldwin said. “Wisconsin farmers work so hard to meet the FDA standards of nutrition and quality. They can't put the word ‘milk’ on the side of a carton of milk unless they meet those standards. It is not fair for plant-based products to be able to say they're milk when they don't meet those standards at all. Baldwin, along with Sens. Jim Risch, R-ID; Peter Welch, D-VT, and Susan Collins, R-ME, last week reintroduced the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which would require FDA to enforce its standards of identity and supersede the inadequate draft guidance it offered in February, in which plant-based beverages could call themselves “milk” as long as they clearly state their nutritional differences with real dairy. Baldwin said DAIRY PRIDE could pass Congress this year via one of several vehicles, including the farm bill due this year. “Many of the folks that I'm joining forces with are going to have significant input as we draft a new farm bill, which is something that I expect to get completed this calendar year. So that's certainly one area that we can look towards. We also have funding bills for the Food and Drug Administration, and that would certainly be another opportunity to look at this type of legislation.” DAIRY PRIDE is an acronym for the Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, Milk, and Cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act. FDA’s guidance is open for public comment until April 24. Dairy advocates may learn more about the issue and offer comments here.

Dairy Brings Resilience for Ukraine Farmer

One year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, dairy cows are critical to keeping Kees Huizenga’s crop and livestock operation running as the war continues to bring hardship and suffering to the country and its agriculture. When the war began, “I went to the people, to the old employees to talk to them and tell them not to panic and that we will all stay, and that we have to keep on running the farm and keep on feeding and milking the cows because they don't care if it's rockets or not. They have to be milked three times a day. And that's what we did. And everybody stayed,” said Huizenga, who is now living in his home country of the Netherlands while managing the 2,000-cow dairy and crop farm he began more than 20 years ago near Cherkasy, Ukraine, about 120 miles southeast of its capital city of Kiev. “The creamery, the processing factory, they never skipped one day in picking up the milk. They never skipped a day in paying. We gave them some milk for free and they processed it for free and they gave these products to refugees and to the army. And a lot of people, a lot of farmers did similar things.” Looking at the next year, the biggest challenge for Ukrainian farmers is “the uncertainty,” he said. “You never know what's going to happen tomorrow, if that rocket might hit your farm. We are still far away from the front line, but I know farmers who've been hit and who've been tortured and killed as well. So, I don't know what the biggest uncertainties are. If there will be enough fertilizer available to grow a good crop. Seeds, are they more or less available. Prices because of these export complexities.”

Farmers Face Unique Mental-Health Challenges, Roecker Says

Farming is a uniquely stressful occupation, and farmer mental-health needs tend to be underserved, said Loganville, WI dairy farmer Randy Roecker in the latest Dairy Defined podcast. Roecker, a board member for Foremost Farms USA, is a co-founder of the Farmer Angel Network, a Wisconsin organization that helps support farmers’ mental health needs. “A lot of farmers are very isolated and they don't get off the farm very much. This leads to getting stuck in the same rut over and over again,” he said. “The main thing is to just be there for each other.”

Falling Prices, Rising Opportunities on Tap for 2023

Record milk prices seen in 2022 likely won’t repeat themselves, as production increases and consumers grapple with an economic slowdown, according to members of the NMPF and U.S. Dairy Export Council’s joint economics unit, in a Dairy Defined Podcast released today. But exports are on track to increase, and demand will likely be resilient as dairy remains must-have for buyers. “Consumers around the world still gravitate towards dairy, even when they're experiencing tighter economic situations,” said Will Loux, head of the team Vice President for Global Economic Affairs with NMPF and USDEC. “They ultimately view dairy as an essential item and will continue to consume it.” Loux discusses the global and domestic dairy outlook with NMPF’s Chief Economist, Peter Vitaliano; Economic Research and Analysis Director, Stephen Cain; and the joint economic team's newest member, Economic Policy and Global Analysis Coordinator, Allison Wilton.

NMPF Scholarship Supports Dairy’s Future

Holiday giving season is under way, and NMPF's National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program is a worthy beneficiary for anyone who cares about a better industry future, explains Nicole Ayache, who leads the program at NMPF, in the latest Dairy Defined podcast. The scholarship supports graduate students, enrolled in master's or doctoral programs, who are actively pursuing dairy related fields of research that directly benefit milk marketing cooperatives and the U.S. dairy industry at large. To learn more about it or to donate, just go to NMPF’s home page, nmpf.org, and click on the blue bar. “As we look at the last 10 years or so of recipients, all of those recipients have stayed within agriculture,” said Ayache, who also serves as NMPF’s vice president for environmental stewardship and sustainability and leads the FARM Program's Environmental Stewardship initiative. “In research, academia, allied industry, whatever it might be, those individuals have stayed within agriculture, and the majority within dairy itself. So we do believe that the scholarships we are awarding are really fulfilling our goal, which is to support the future of dairy.”

IDF World Dairy Summit a U.S. Dairy Opportunity

The International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Dairy Summit brings unique opportunities for U.S. dairy as the host nation for the Chicago event, to be held next Oct. 16-19. The global conference returns to the United States for the first time in three decades, at a moment when rising exports and world-leading sustainability gives the U.S. industry a great story to tell, according to three leaders in organizing next year’s events. “It's a really exciting time for our industry, and we think that there's a tremendous opportunity, a tremendous amount of potential that dairy, globally, has here,” said Shawna Morris, Senior Vice President for Trade at the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC). “Looking at how we tap into that together is what we're focused on doing through the conference.” “Bringing all of these folks to the United States creates an opportunity to get folks into facilities, to get them out to farms, to really show the rest of the global dairy industry what the U.S. dairy industry is all about,” said Nick Gardner, chairman of the U.S. International Dairy Federation, the Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Multilateral Affairs at USDEC, and with Morris the co-chair of next year’s summit. “This is an excellent opportunity for the U.S. dairy industry to highlight its world leading dairy production from the farm through our cooperatives and processors and out to the consumers,” said Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s chief science officer and chair of IDF’s Science Program Coordinating Committee. “It's a way for us to step on the world stage, reintroduce U.S. dairy, its innovation and technology to the global marketplace, and demonstrate how we are world leaders.” Morris, Gardner and Jonker also discuss how the dairy community can get involved with supporting the event, already highlighted by platinum-level sponsor Dairy Management Inc., as planning for it is already in full swing.

Congressional Balance Affects Dairy Policy but Doesn’t Shift Priorities

Control of the House of Representatives remains in doubt nearly one week after last Tuesday’s elections. But regardless of who is in charge in 2023, dairy’s priorities will move forward, says Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s Senior Vice President for Government Relations, in a Dairy Defined podcast. “The basic policy priorities remain the same,” said Bleiberg. “There are some areas where we might have more support from Republicans, some where we might have more support from Democrats, some where we might have more support on regional lines, and it's really a question of strategy. Who's going to be on the Agriculture Committee? Who's going to be on the Appropriations Committee or the Ways and Means committee? Who are the members that we might go to kind of champion different priorities in those or other committees? That sort of is subject to those dynamics, but our priorities will be our priorities.”

Chairman Mooney Highlights Dairy’s Strengths

NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney, a dairy farmer outside Rogersville, MO, said the spirit of collaboration and facing challenges head on, embodied in the cooperative model, will give dairy strength in the years to come. He spoke on Oct. 25 at NMPF’s annual meeting in Denver. “This is an exciting time in our industry,” Mooney said. “What we do on our farms and in our communities is important, how we do it is important, and it's important that we stay at the forefront of this revolution, never settling for status quo, thinking differently, and seizing the opportunities.”

Hall of Famer Stammer Says Cooperatives as Valuable as Ever

To celebrate National Cooperative Month (and the centennial of the Capper-Volstead Act that underpins farm cooperatives to this day), Cooperative Hall of Fame Member Rich Stammer, former CEO of Agri-Mark, says the values of cooperatives remain important as new challenges to dairy farmers emerge. “As more and more people moved away from the farm, didn't know anything about farming, co-ops have played a bigger role in informing consumers about dairy and farmers and what they do,” he said. “We have attacks from animal rights groups. Dairy farmers take great care of their animals, but getting that message out to consumers with all the negative things that come down, is an important role of co-ops. We have a program, our FARM program, basically to ensure animals are treated right, to have a measurable way of animal care, and to get that message out to consumers about how well we care for our animals. “You have more and more challenges on the environmental side of our business. And dairy co-ops have become very involved in sustainability efforts, and again, showing how sustainable dairy farms are and how we take care of our land. We are much more involved in getting messages out to consumers, representing farmers and environmental laws, and there's so many areas,” he said.

California Water Crisis Challenges Dairy, Vanden Heuvel Says

Water is front-of-mind for California dairy farmers, as scarcity is threatening to change the industry structure of the top U.S. dairy-producing state. While successful adjustments to a lower-water future are possible, the state badly needs moisture in the next few months to stave off greater immediate hardship for milk producers and improved government policy to help dairy prosper in the longer term, said Geoff Vanden Heuvel, director of regulatory and economic affairs for the California-based Milk Producers Council. “I put 2,500 to 3,000 miles a month of my truck just driving up and down the Valley going to water meetings, and to see what's been built here is just incredible and marvelous,” said Vanden Heuvel in a Dairy Defined podcast. “We're running the risk of losing that if we don't do some things intelligently.”

Milk Doesn’t Come From a Vat, Wisconsin’s Lucey Says

While “lab-based” dairy is touted by startups and investors, the very concept that dairy-protein replicas made in vats holds equal value for consumers is suspect, says Dr. John Lucey, professor of food science at the University of Wisconsin, in a Dairy Defined podcast released today. “We have to separate out the fact there's a lot of marketing hype,” Lucey said. “The reality is, to produce these original structures like milk fat or casein, micelles and stuff that are present naturally in milk, is really complicated.” Lucey details the many differences between dairy, a natural animal product, and “animal-free” imitators in composition and sustainability, noting why labeling for such products need to be clearly differentiated.

Ports Momentum Must Continue, NMPF’s Rice Says

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act is now law, but much more is needed to ensure reliable exports of U.S. dairy products to the overseas markets that represent the industry’s future, said Tony Rice, trade policy manager for NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, in a Dairy Defined podcast released today. “Our international customers demand U.S. dairy products,” said Rice. “Our competitors, mostly the EU and New Zealand, they've shown that they're not going to be able to keep pace in the coming years. So it makes all the more important that these supply chain issues get ironed out, and hopefully sooner rather than later.” Rice explains the complexities of the challenges facing U.S. port traffic, why additional public policy changes are essential, and how NMPF is leading agriculture’s efforts for change.

Farm Bill Cultivation Time is Now, NMPF’s Bleiberg Says

With initial hearings under way, dairy’s priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill are taking shape, NMPF Senior Vice President for Government Relations Paul Bleiberg said in an NMPF podcast. “A lot of that stakeholder outreach is going on right now, both publicly in hearings and behind the scenes as well, as we all start to figure out what improvements do we need to see in the next Farm Bill,” Bleiberg said. “It's an important opportunity given that it only does come up every so often.” Bleiberg also discussed upcoming congressional elections and how redistricting could affect dairy’s political clout in the next Congress.

Love of Farm, Family Motivates Young Cooperators Leader

A commitment to a rural family life motivates work at Unc Brooke Farm, said Val Levine of Schaghticoke, NY, chairwoman of NMPF’s National Young Cooperators organization of younger dairy farmers, Levine said in a Dairy Defined podcast released today. Levine and her husband, members of the Agri-Mark cooperative, operate the 200-cow dairy near Schaghticoke, NY, along with numerous side businesses related to the farm. “We are a family run farm. We do have a few employees, but for the most part, the family does a lot of the work, and we're happy to,” she said. “I'm so happy to be able to raise my three children on the farm with the cows and the other animals, and I wouldn't want it any other way.” Along with the farm, the family raises turkeys, beef, and goats along with a catering business. Lavine also discusses the challenges of being a younger farmer and why she’s leading the YCs, which since 1950 has provided dairy leaders with a better understanding of issues facing far…

U.S. Well-Positioned to Serve the Globe, Economists Say

As its competitors move to constrain – if not roll back – their own dairy production, United States dairy producers are well-positioned to become the preferred supplier to growing international dairy markets, two top dairy economists said in an NMPF podcast. New Zealand and the European Union, the main U.S. competitors on global dairy markets, aren’t as focused on sustainably feeding the world as the United States, said William Loux, vice president of global economic affairs for the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “You see countries like the Netherlands driving programs to reduce dairy cows by 30 percent,” he said. “That's not really necessarily in the spirit of, ‘Hey, there's a globe right now that is demanding dairy products. How do we do that sustainably?’ which I think is the U.S. perspective. So, as we go forward, the US really should be the one to capture this global dairy demand as we increase our exports overall.” Loux is joined in the podcast by Stephen Cain, d…

Dairy Progress Possible on Capitol Hill, NMPF’s Bleiberg Says

With rising energy costs and a war effort riveting attention in Washington, 2022 is turning out to be an unusually busy year on Capitol Hill – one that holds opportunity for dairy, said Paul Bleiberg, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for the National Milk Producers Federation, in a Dairy Defined podcast. “Election years can sometimes be quiet in a lot of ways. But there's still a lot of sausage making that goes on,” he said. “We are hopeful that we'll see some progress on supply chain legislation, in particular the Ocean Shipping Reform Act that our trade team has worked really hard on, to move forward in a variety of different contexts. And then that farm bill process is just going to get more and more significant as the date gets closer.” Bleiberg also in the podcast discusses the prospects for “climate-smart” agricultural legislation to pass Congress this year and looks at gains for dairy in recent spending legislation.

Dairy a Sustainability Leader, USDA’s Bonnie Says

Dairy has long been an agricultural leader in efforts to enhance sustainability and combat climate change, said Robert Bonnie, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation. Even during times when farmers had questions about how climate policy was evolving, “Dairy stayed engaged, and continued to look for ways to, advance opportunities for, for producers,” Bonnie said. “That is notable and really important.” Bonnie in the podcast explains USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative that it rolled out last month, as well as how climate-smart agriculture programs may evolve and expand. He also notes that the farmer signup deadline for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program ends March 25, encouraging dairy producers to participate. “One of the things USDA is really interested in, is making sure we have better data to make that case, to drive a narrative that demonstrates that agriculture can be part o…

Progress on Ports Problems

Bottlenecks at U.S. ports and their impact on agricultural exports took center stage at the National Press Club last week, with a webinar sponsored by the National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, and Agri-Pulse. This week’s podcast features Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC, moderating a panel from the webinar featuring USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack; John Porcari, the Biden Administration’s Supply Chain Ports Envoy; Reps. John Garamendi (D-CA) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), co-sponsor of a House of Representatives ports bill. Vilsack at the panel announced a new initiative adding access for U.S. agricultural exports at the Port of Oakland. Vilsack also noted the importance of the public understanding that ports backlogs don’t only affect shipments of consumer goods. “We hope to be able to make sure that people understand this isn't just an import issue, it's also an export issue,” Vilsack said at the event. “And the Department of Agriculture want…

Dairy Grows Through Family and Faith, CDI’s Vander Woude Says

Despite policy challenges, family-run dairies continue to grow and succeed through dedication and faith, California dairy farmer Simon Vander Woude, the chairman of California Dairies Inc., first vice-chair of NMPF and a member of its executive committee, says in an NMPF podcast. “We begin every day acknowledging that what we have is not our own, it's a gift from the Lord, and we have to be good stewards of the gifts that He's blessed us with,” Vander Woude said. “We've been very blessed here.” That stewardship is expressed in many ways, from caring for the environment to seeking new opportunities to serve consumers in the United States and worldwide, he said. Vander Woude, who testified before a congressional subcommittee last year on the need to expand global market access, said that while domestic consumers continue to want dairy products, overseas sales are the key to harnessing dairy’s growing productivity and international demand. “If 20 to 30 percent of our milk…

Price Forecast Positive for Dairy, NMPF’s Vitaliano Says

Dairy prices for 2022 are projected at an eight-year high, with supply adjustments and booming exports across a wide range of products shoring up farmer balance sheets that have struggled with volatility during the pandemic era, NMPF Chief Economist Peter Vitaliano says. Due to tight supplies “not only is the outlook for milk prices the best in eight years, but that's also the case for the individual dairy products,” Vitaliano said. Peter Vitaliano. “The big question is, with milk prices this good and feed prices not going up as fast as they were last year, how long is that tightness going to continue? And how soon will it be before we see some expansion of milk production again?” Vitaliano, who also writes NMPF’s monthly Dairy Market Report, also encouraged farmers to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program, which has a deadline of Feb. 18 for 2022 assistance. “The futures markets look very good at the moment, but there are many months to go. The history of dairy f…

Ports Progress Critical, NMPF’s Rice Says

Overwhelming support received last week in the U.S. House of Representatives for badly needed shipping-policy reforms is a crucial step, but far from the only one needed, to ensure reliable exports of U.S. dairy products to growing overseas markets, said Tony Rice, trade policy manager for NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, in a Dairy Defined podcast. Since the Ocean Shipping Reform Act passed the House last week, “We are focused on keeping up that pressure and ensuring both in Congress and both with the administration that there are fixes out there and the fixes are not just a one-time or one-off, that these are going to be some fundamental reforms that are much needed in this industry to ensure that this situation doesn't happen again,” Rice said. Rice explains the complexities of challenges facing U.S. port traffic, with ships experiencing powerful financial incentives to quickly travel to Asia without carrying farm exports necessary to boost rural incomes and the U.S. ec…

‘Climate-Smart Ag’ Enhances Dairy Stewardship, NMPF’s Bleiberg Says

The reconciliation bill being negotiated before Congress would help “climate-smart” agriculture move forward by adapting USDA conservation programs toward approaches that aid dairy in its Net Zero Initiative goal of being carbon neutral or better by 2050, says Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s Senior Vice President for Government Relations, in a Dairy Defined podcast released today. “The excitement here for us in the agriculture space, in particular for dairy, is the possibility of new funding, increased funding for conservation programs over time, really with an emphasis on those practices, those climate-smart ag practices that can generate and yield meaningful environmental benefits, whether that be sequestering carbon in soil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, better emphasis on the newer management, feed management, things like that,” Bleiberg said. “We see a tremendous amount of potential.”

Dairy Nourishes Africa, Building an Industry and Resilience

With the UN Food Systems Summit this week and World Food Day next month, dairy’s global leadership in building sustainable, robust food chains are in the spotlight. Dairy Nourishes Africa, an initiative from Global Dairy Platform, is developing dairy’s potential in East Africa, where nutrition needs are great and dairy provides an economically promising, sustainable solution. “It's an opportunity for U.S. dairy to build a business base in one of the fastest-growing regions in the world over the next 20, 30 years,” said Andrei Mikhalevsky, a former CEO of California Dairies Inc. and an advisor on the DNA Project. “And it gives the US dairy industry a real opportunity to make a difference in this part of the world and to do good, starting with the work in Tanzania.” The podcast focuses on one project, a small dairy processor in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania called Sebadom founded by entrepreneur Anaty Kokushubira Kombeson and her mother. Working with DNA, the processor…

FARM Evaluator Works as a Partner

National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program evaluators provide a critical link between a dairy farmer and the consumer, working to ensure best practices. But they’re also a resource for farmers, said Janae Klingler, Manager of Animal Care and Sustainability for the Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, in the latest Dairy Defined podcast. “We are a trusted advisor to our farms,” Klingler said. “Yes, we are here to make sure that our farms are meeting the program standards, but even a bigger part of our job is making sure that our farms get to that point of meeting those program standards and helping them figure out who can help them get there.”

Elle Purrier St. Pierre Goes for Gold in Tokyo

This week’s Dairy Defined is, admittedly, a re-run – but when the runner is an Olympic medal hopeful, additional mileage is appropriate. Elinor “Elle” Purrier St. Pierre easily made it through her preliminary round of the women’s 1500m race earlier today (last night in the U.S.) in the Tokyo Olympics. She’s running in the semi-finals on Wednesday – with the finals on Friday. Purrier St. Pierre grew up on a 40-cow operation in Vermont -- and is currently living on one with her husband. She’s spent much of her training over the past year-and-a-half in Vermont, with the COVID-19 pandemic requiring a new approach to top-level preparation. “I ironed out how to do it up here. I figured out that I needed to get the job done,” she said. “I bought a lot of my own equipment, and I found new places to run, and once I got settled in, I'm so happy that I have this home to come home to and train here. And I do feel very grounded here.” Purrier St. Pierre also discussed ho…

Prospects for Policies Supporting Net-Zero Goals Looking Up, NMPF’s Bleiberg Says

From incentives for carbon markets to new conservation initiatives, the policies that will support dairy’s Net Zero Initiative continue to take shape, says Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s Senior Vice President for Government Relations, in a Dairy Defined podcast released today. The Growing Climate Solutions Act, which passed the U.S. Senate by a 92-8 vote in June, “is very helpful to our overall efforts because environmental markets are a key tool in the toolbox of the Net Zero Initiative,” Bleiberg said. Meanwhile, an investment tax-credit bill for greenhouse-gas-reducing technologies “has started to make sore real headway,” he said. And conservation programs built around climate-friendly agricultural practices “may be able to encompass some of the work that we're doing and help us build on it.”

Farmer Experience a Plus in Congress, Valadao Says

A farm background, and the emphasis it places on people working together, brings the type of experience that’s helpful to getting things done in Congress, said Rep. David Valadao, R-CA, in the latest Dairy Defined podcast. “Every time a salesman shows up on your property, they might be trying to sell you a product you might not like that day, but the following day, they're going to have stuff you might like. And so to just cut off communication with someone because you disagree with them one day, doesn't mean you cut off communication forever,” said Valadao, the only dairy farmer serving in Congress. “I do believe in Congress. For you to legislate good policy, you have to have everyone at the table and be able to have a conversation about the topic. It forces you, one, to understand the issue, but two, to hear it from both sides and try to represent our areas as best we possibly can.”

The Numbers Show It -- U.S. Dairy is Growing Globally

U.S. dairy products are increasingly competitive globally – a fact shown in surging export numbers, according to two top dairy economists in the National Milk Producers Federation’s latest Dairy Defined podcast. “Global demand is fundamentally really strong right now,” said Wiliam Loux, the Director of Global Trade Analysis for the U.S. Dairy Export Council. “Consumers within China are just wanting a lot of dairy. And Mexico, after a tough year with the COVID-19 pandemic and some economic issues, is recovering. Southeast Asia, the Middle East, all need product too.” Loux was joined by Stephen Cain, an economic analyst for NMPF and USDEC, who noted that, relative to its main global competitors, the United States may be best positioned to take advantage of further growth in international dairy markets. “The EU and New Zealand are facing substantial obstacles in growing their herd. We're the only one that has the capacity to add cows, add growth to meet that growing deman…

U.S. Dairy has “Big Wide World” of Trade Opportunity, NMPF’s Morris Says

All of agriculture will benefit from U.S. insistence that trade agreements be enforced, even as dairy seeks export opportunities around the globe, says Shawna Morris, NMPF’s Senior Vice President for Trade. “Having the willingness to be able to go ahead and enforce what's needed when it becomes clear that, that's what's required, we think sets a good tone,” said Morris in a Dairy Defined podcast released today, referring to the U.S. Trade Representative’s recent decision to pursue a dispute settlement over Canadian practices related to the USMCA trade deal. Meanwhile, even as existing agreements need enforcement, new deals must be pursued, she said. “One of the biggest things that's on our radar is simply the drum beat about the importance of pursuing new market opportunities,” she said. “USMCA is a piece of that. We want to make sure the market opportunities we got in that agreement just last year, we maximize, but it's a big wide world out there.”

Dairy Defines Sustainability, Land O’Lakes’ Kappelman Says

Sustainability is shaping the U.S. dairy industry’s future, making it better equipped to make sure the world has the nutrition it needs, says Pete Kappelman, a longtime dairy farmer and Land O'Lakes' Senior Vice President of Member and Government Relations. “U.S. dairy farmers are deeply involved and concerned about the many communities that they touch. And that starts with producing a safe, nutritious, affordable food, but it also includes things like being good stewards of the land, for the good of the planet,” as well as being able to pass a farm down to future generations, said Kappelman in a Dairy Defined podcast. “In order to feed a growing population, we've got to work together across continents, across cultures and markets to make abundant nutritious food available so everyone can realize their full potential.”

Farmers at the Heart of Nation’s Solutions, Leader of Black Farmers Group Says

From building small communities to solving environmental issues, farmers stand at the center of solutions to national problems, says Cornelius Blanding, executive director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives Land Assistance Fund, a Georgia-based non-profit cooperative association of Black farmers, landowners, and cooperatives. “Farmers are at the heart of the solutions of our country,” said Blanding in a Dairy Defined podcast episode released today. “They're probably one of the most important pieces of our nation, and it's about time for us as a country to understand that.”

U.S. Dairy Exports a Sustainable Success, USDEC’s Harden Says

A career devoted to agricultural sustainability – capped by a stint as the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture – has prepared new U.S. Dairy Export Council President and CEO Krysta Harden well for her new role. Dairy’s stewardship at home is a powerful message to boost sales abroad, she says – and that story is becoming ever-more-important to hear as dairy’s critics try to shape global agriculture. “Our future is exciting,” she said. “I think we have great products. I think our farmers are the most productive in the world. They're ready to meet the challenges of the world. And there's a great demand for what we produce. And so we've got to be there, we've got to be in those markets, we've got to be building trust, building our reputation, building our image.”

Environmental Stewardship Natural for Dairy, FARM’s Ayache Says

Earth Day later this month is a natural opportunity to highlight dairy’s commitment to environmental stewardship, Nicole Ayache, NMPF’s senior director for sustainability initiatives and leader of Environmental Stewardship and Workforce Development for the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program, said in an NMPF podcast released today. “Caring for our natural resources is every day for a dairy farmer,” she says. “There's a lot of inherent dedication to taking care of the environment, because it's how you live your life, and where you live your life.” Ayache discusses the structure of the FARM Program and how it has led achievements for the entire sector as dairy strives to achieve ambitious sustainability and emissions goals.

Dairy Keeps Elite Athletes Running, Olympic Hopeful Elle Purrier St. Pierre Says

Elinor “Elle” Purrier St. Pierre holds the U.S. record for fastest times in the women’s indoor mile and two-mile races. She’s also a dairy farmer, having grown up on a 40-cow operation in Vermont and currently living on one with her husband as she trains for a shot at the Tokyo Olympics. Those Olympics, like everything else, have been disrupted by COVID-19, which last year sent Purrier St. Pierre back to Vermont, away from her training partners at Team New Balance Boston and in need of a new approach to top-level preparation for some of the most important races of her life. “Up here I'm pretty by myself. So it was pretty tough, but I ironed out how to do it up here. I figured out that I needed to get the job done,” she said. “So I bought a lot of my own equipment, and I found new places to run, and once I got settled in, I'm so happy that I have this home to come home to and train here. And I do feel very grounded here.” Purrier St. Pierre also discusses how dairy ha…

Ag Labor Reform’s Time is Now, NMPF’s Larson Says

An ebbing COVID-19 pandemic, an appreciation of the labor crisis in agriculture, and a heightened bipartisan desire for immigration reform all make 2021 a unique opportunity for progress in ensuring a secure dairy workforce if the moment is seized, NMPF Senior Director of Government Relations Claudia Larson says in a Dairy Defined podcast. “This window of opportunity, I think if we don't seize it, we're not entirely sure when it will open again,” Larson said. If people want to become involved, your voice will have an impact with your members of Congress.” The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, a bipartisan attempt to address ag labor needs, may reach the floor of the House of Representatives this week. Larson said support for the bill is important to build momentum in the Senate to reach its own agreement, noting that people who want to urge their own lawmakers to act can do so by becoming a Dairy Advocate here.

Dairy Playing Its Part as a Climate Solution, NMPF’s Jonker Says

Through commitments like the Net Zero Initiative and efforts like the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, dairy farmers are well-positioned to be agricultural leaders in mitigating climate change, said Dr. Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s Vice President for Sustainability and Scientific Affairs. “We're producing more milk, we're having less greenhouse gas emissions overall, which means that the U.S. dairy sector is already the most efficient in the world,” said Jonker, who also serves as chairman of the International Dairy Federation’s Science Program Coordinating Committee. Still, farmers face regulatory and financial challenges in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the sustainability of their resource use, he said. “The biggest challenge is really the technology and financial side. If we're not able to have our dairy farmers afford to make changes in their operations, then they cannot put these technologies and best practic…

Milk-Production Increase Outstripping Supply Gains, NMPF’s Vitaliano Says

Milk production is increasing faster than demand is recovering, making 2021 a challenging year for dairy farmers, said Peter Vitaliano, NMPF’s chief economist, in an NMPF podcast. “On balance, things are improving a little bit” in dairy demand, “but they're still falling short of the milk production rate of increase,” Vitaliano said. Still, bright spots remain for the medium- and longer-term dairy outlook. Demand for U.S. dairy exports is at record levels, and demand for dairy away from home should increase as the COVID-19 pandemic fades, he said.

Mistrust Pervades Congress, But Progress Possible, NMPF’s Bleiberg Says

Governing in 2021 is difficult, with a narrowly divided Congress and a new administration facing significant challenges, said Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s senior vice president for government relations, in an NMPF podcast. Still, policy progress for dairy is possible, especially given the sector’s reputation for bipartisan cooperation, he said.

Dietary Guidelines Good for Dairy, Hanselman Says

Newly released federal dietary guidelines will benefit dairy, even as work remains to be done, said Miquela Hanselman, NMPF’s regulatory affairs manager. “Dairy is in a good place,” Hanselman said. “Three servings of low-fat and non-fat dairy are continued to be recommended in the healthy U.S. and vegetarian diets, and dairy remained its own group. In addition, dairy was recognized as a source of under-consumed nutrients, which are also known as nutrients of public health concern.” Hanselman also discusses the need to incorporate up-to-date research on dairy in fats in the next round of guidelines and talks about their impact on encouraging the next generation of milk-drinkers.

Sen. Pat Roberts on His Past and Agriculture’s Future

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts is leaving Congress after 40 years in January. The only person to lead both the House and Senate agriculture committees takes with him a wealth of wisdom in agriculture policy – but also holds optimism for agriculture’s ability to get things done in an environment of difficult challenges. “I would just say that I am very confident that the people who will be taking my place, they have a lot of experience,” Roberts said. “They're good folks. I think the same attempt, at least, with regards to making it bipartisan, will continue.” Roberts, who first came to Washington as a congressional staffer a half-century ago, also reflects on the two farm bills he led -- 1996’s Freedom to Farm law and the 2018 bill -- as well as one area where he wished he could have done more: his leadership of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the Iraq War. He also said he doesn’t consider his career to be over – without revealing plans,…

DMC an Essential Risk-Management Option for 2021

Forecasts for prices and politics both make signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program a compelling risk-management choice for 2021, National Milk Producers Federation Senior Vice President for Member Services & Strategic Initiatives Chris Galen says. “Congress is still trying to pass another stimulus bill to help all walks of life in our society and our economy and hopefully agriculture will be part of that, but right now there aren't any serious negotiations. Who knows if that can will be kicked into 2021?” Galen said. “What we do know is that the DMC program is forecast to make payments in the first part of 2021. So you've got to go with what you know.”

YC’s Weber Navigates the Challenges of Launching a Dairy

James Weber is learning as he goes along – but the coronavirus pandemic, disrupted international markets, shifting technology and turbulent political debates make life as a beginning dairy farmer challenging, as Weber, explains.

How NMPF Pulled Off a Virtual Cheese Contest

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted lives transformed everything from schooling and shopping habits to … cheese contests. It’s not something most people think about, but in a time of social distancing and curtailed travel, how exactly does one gather, sample, compare and celebrate world-class cheeses, virtually?

NMPF Chair Mooney Says Dairy is Meeting “Biggest Challenges of Our Lifetimes”

The extreme disruptions and financial upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have created real struggles for dairy producers – and the industry has responded by rising to an unprecedented occasion, said Randy Mooney, chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation, to delegates at the organization’s first-ever virtual annual meeting.

Sustainability, in All Its Forms, Key to Dairy’s Future, Vold Says

On National Farmer’s Day, dairy farmer Suzanne Vold is highlighting dairy’s commitments to the environment and a net-zero future, noting that her colleagues are already effective stewards and are committed to doing more.

Sustainability, in All Its Forms, Key to Dairy’s Future, Vold Says

On National Farmer’s Day, dairy farmer Suzanne Vold is highlighting dairy’s commitments to the environment and a net-zero future, noting that her colleagues are already effective stewards and are committed to doing more.

Congressman ‘GT’ Thompson Praises Safety Net

The Dairy Margin Coverage program has worked well for the farmers who signed up for it, while other federal programs ranging from emergency loans to disaster payments have helped keep dairy farms afloat during the coronavirus crisis, said Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-PA.

With Congress at an Impasse, Look to USDA for Disaster Assistance, NMPF’s Bleiberg Says

Election-year politics is complicating efforts to push additional agriculture aid through Congress, but already-authorized spending may allow USDA to aid dairy farmers facing unstable roller-coaster prices and shifting supply chains, said Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s vice president for government relations, in an NMPF podcast.

Food-Chain Return to “Normal” May Be Years Away, NMPF’s Detlefsen Says

The coronavirus crisis is far from over, but the food supply chain has adapted effectively even as challenges remain, said Clay Detlefsen, chief counsel for the National Milk Producers Federation and the private-sector chair of the Food and Agricultural Sector Coordinating Council, in an NMPF podcast.

Milk Prices Remain a Roller Coaster Amid COVID-19, NMPF’s Vitaliano Says

Dairy prices that plunged, then skyrocketed, have settled – for a moment. But volatility should be expected as long as COVID-19 makes its way through the economy, said Peter Vitaliano, chief economist for NMPF.

Still Time to Influence the Dietary Guidelines, NMPF’s Hanselman Says

Public comments on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee’s scientific report may be submitted until Aug. 13. It’s a great time for dairy voices to be heard, said Miquela Hanselman, NMPF’s manager for regulatory affairs.

Dairy’s Safety Net is Best – If Farmers Use It, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Peterson Says

The Dairy Margin Coverage Program and with other federal risk management programs have served farmers well during the coronavirus crisis and will continue to offer effective aid, as long as farmers participate, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson said. “Dairy now has, I think, the best safety net of any part of agriculture, especially for small dairy farmers,” said Peterson, a Democrat from Minnesota, in the podcast released today. “They, no doubt, have the best safety net that there is right now, if they utilize it.”

USMCA’s Arrival a Reason to Celebrate – and Keep Working, NMPF’s Morris Says

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is in effect, boosting opportunities for dairy producers. But enforcement vigilance will be necessary to make sure the deal meets its potential, said Shawna Morris, vice president for trade at the National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

Swift Action from Farmers, Government Helped Spur Dairy Recovery, NMPF’s Vitaliano Says

Dairy prices have rebounded dramatically because farmers quickly adjusted their milk production and consumers boosted retail demand as government purchases kicked in to help offset lost food-service sales, said Peter Vitaliano, chief economist for the National Milk Producers Federation. “That has resulted in a very, very rapid change in the market price outlook,” Vitaliano said in an NMPF podcast released today. “The markets currently are looking like there’s going to be a very strong rebound, and prices will get to a more normal level in the second half of this year,” he said.

Higher Prices, Effective Policies Helping Dairy Rebound and Advance, Agri-Mark’s Jacquier Says

Higher milk prices and effective federal policies – both encouraged by dairy’s unity in responding to the coronavirus crisis – are dramatically turning around dairy-farmer fortunes and presenting opportunities to build on positive lessons learned, according to James “Cricket” Jacquier, a member of the NMPF’s executive committee and chairman of the board for Agri-Mark.

Sustainability Creates Economic Opportunities for Dairy, DMI’s Harden Says

Far-reaching dairy sustainability goals, including a pledge for net-zero emissions by 2050, go hand-in-hand with economic opportunity for dairy farmers, said Krysta Harden, executive vice president, global environmental strategy, for Dairy Management Inc. and Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy.

USDA’s Latest Coronavirus Aid May Not Be the Last, NMPF’s Bleiberg Says

This week farmers received welcome relief from the Trump Administration through its Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, for which farmers can sign up starting May 26 – but that may not be Washington’s last work on farm aid this year. More assistance may be on the way, even though the details and timing remain unclear, according to Paul Bleiberg, vice president for government relations at the National Milk Producers Federation.

‘Taking A Deep Breath’ Can Help Manage a Crisis, Says FARM’s Yeiser-Stepp

The economic and health risks of coronavirus have many dairy producers on edge – but staying focused on the task at hand and remembering the value that dairy farming provides can help carry farmers through, says Emily Yeiser-Stepp, vice president at the National Milk Producers Federation and director of National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management, a.k.a. the FARM Program.

Dairy-Price Struggles Will Worsen Before They Get Better, Darigold’s Plagerman Says

Lags in timing for milk payments have kept many dairy farmers from feeling the worst effects of the coronavirus crisis’s effects on their revenues – but that will soon change, said Leroy Plagerman, a dairy farmer in Whatcom County, in the northwest corner of Washington. One of the biggest challenges dairies face is “just the challenge of the uncertainty, and not knowing how long this is going to last, and where we end up on the other side,” said Plagerman, who also is a director of the Northwest Dairy Association, a.k.a. Darigold, in an NMPF podcast.

Creative Policy Solutions Needed as Dairy Prices Plunge, NMPF’s Vitaliano Says

Catastrophically low milk prices may decline further in May and June, making all-hands-on-deck efforts to find solutions for all dairy producers necessary, Peter Vitaliano, chief economist for the National Milk Producers Federation, says in a new NMPF podcast.

Small-Business Loans Program a Balm for Farmers – But Act Fast, NMPF’s Larson Says

Congress’s move to replenish two coronavirus-related assistance programs that are available to dairy businesses may help keep some dairies afloat – but application windows may close fast, said Claudia Larson, government relations director at the National Milk Producers Federation. Congress’s latest $484 billion coronavirus aid package replenishes two new small business loan programs that were overwhelmed by demand when first offered – the Paycheck Protection Program, which allows qualified banks to offer low-interest loans that can later be forgiven, and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, a parallel program operated by the Small Business Administration.

Expanding Overseas Markets Key to Dairy Post-Coronavirus, NMPF’s Morris Says

Even U.S. dairy struggles to meet the immediate challenges of coronavirus, its work on expanding overseas markets continues “not with an eye on what’s going to happen necessarily in the next week, but what needs to happen over the next year or two” to help the industry recover, said Shawna Morris, vice president for trade at the National Milk Producers Federation.

Bovine Coronavirus Doesn’t Protect Farms Against Human Strain, Zoetis’s Lormore Says

More than four decades of dairy-industry experience with bovine coronavirus shouldn’t translate to complacency on farms about the human version, says Mike Lormore, the Director of U.S. Dairy Cattle Technical Services for Zoetis, the world’s largest manufacturer of animal-health vaccines, in an NMPF podcast released today.

Farmer Unity Necessary for Policy Success, NMPF’s Castaneda Says

Jaime Castaneda, senior vice president for policy, strategy and international trade at the National Milk Producers Federation, says the coronavirus crisis carries an urgency for the federal government comparable to world-shaping events such as World War II and the Great Depression. And as policy leaders work to rise to the occasion, the dairy community needs to as well, he said.

Rebalancing Production Can Speed Market Recovery, NMPF’s Vitaliano Says

National Milk Producers Federation Chief Economist Peter Vitaliano says government support for dairy producers to reduce production in coming months can speed dairy’s recovery from coronavirus-driven price declines. Production balancing is part of the NMPF and International Dairy Foods Association plan for dairy assistance presented to the U.S. Department of Agriculture last week.

Detlefsen Predicts Protective Equipment Shortages in Food Chain to Linger Into Summer

Clay Detlefsen, senior vice president of regulatory and environmental affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation and the private-sector chair of the Food and Agricultural Sector Coordinating Council – says that while shortages of grocery staples have eased in the U.S., shortages of personal protective equipment may linger into June – and that even after the coronavirus threat has ebbed, the era of masks and gloves for food-sector workers may be here to stay.

Today’s Dairy Difficulties to Reverberate for Several Months, NMPF’s Vitaliano Says

NMPF Chief Economist Peter Vitaliano says current coronavirus-created gloom over dairy prices as expressed in futures markets may turn out be overstated in the end, but that the pain felt by producers over the next few months will be real, as lower prices make their way into milk checks paid to farmers for their milk.

NMPF’s Galen Discusses the Need for Dairy Advocacy

Chris Galen, senior vice president for membership services and strategic initiatives at the National Milk Producers Federation, says dairy farmers need effective policy advocacy in Washington as the economic effects of coronavirus are dealt with for months, in both anticipated and unanticipated ways.

NMPF’s Vitaliano Discusses Dairy’s Looming Challenges With RFD-TV

NMPF Chief Economist Peter Vitaliano discusses the challenges dairy farmers will face as supply chains adjust to coronavirus-related disruptions in an interview for a television news package on dairy that RFD-TV is producing to air next week. RFD provided NMPF with the full interview, in which Vitaliano explains how sold-out dairy cases and lower milk prices can exist at the same time and how various federal assistance proposals could work economically.

Coronavirus Bill Offers Dairy Aid in What May Be a Long Effort, NMPF’s Bleiberg Says

A massive coronavirus aid package poised to pass Congress that includes crucial assistance to dairy producers is a critical, but likely not the last, step in assisting sectors hard-hit by economic disruptions, said Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s vice president for government relations, in an NMPF podcast.

FARM’s Yeiser Stepp Discusses How Dairy-Farm Stewardship is Adapting to Coronavirus

Emily Yeiser Stepp, a National Milk Producers Federation vice president and head of the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, is seeing rapid evolution in the initiative as the dairy industry continues to ensure quality animal care, a commitment to sustainability and best practices in the workplace even as coronavirus disrupts supply chains .

NMPF’s Detlefsen, Leader of Food-Chain Coordination Effort, Says Grocery Shortages Will Ease

Clay Detlefsen, senior vice president of regulatory and environmental affairs for the National Milk Producers Federation, says that based on information he’s received while serving in another role -- as the private-sector chair of the Food and Agricultural Sector Coordinating Council – shortages of consumer staples in grocery stores strained by responses to coronavirus-related restrictions should begin easing, as soon as within a week.

NMPF’s Jonker on Dairy’s Response to the Coronavirus

NMPF’s Vice President for Sustainability and Scientific Affairs, Dr. Jamie Jonker, discusses why U.S. milk supplies are safe and details the precautions dairy farmers are taking to protect their workers and facilities in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ag-Labor’s Legislative Obstacles Don’t Deter South Dakota Farmer

Lynn Boadwine, an owner of Boadwine Farms near Baltic, South Dakota, was part of a group of dairy farmers from 26 states who visited Capitol Hill last week as part of an NMPF fly-in calling for agricultural labor reform. NMPF has long advocated for farm-labor legislation in Washington, and even though last year the House of Representatives advanced its first package since 1986, much work remains to be done in the Senate. Boadwine says it’s a heavy lift – but possible.

NMPF’s Castaneda Surveys the Trade Landscape

Tangible gains from the USMCA trade agreement, as well as progress in “Phase One” trade deals with China and Japan, underscore dairy’s persistent efforts to open new opportunities in foreign markets, Jamie, Castaneda, NMPF’s senior vice president for policy strategy and international trade, says in this week’s Dairy Defined Podcast.

NMPF’s Jonker on Dairy’s Advancing Stewardship

Dairy farming continues to advance in sustainability and animal welfare as technology and scientific understanding evolves, ensuring better care for the planet and for animals, said Jamie Jonker, NMPF vice president for sustainability and scientific affairs.

USDEC’s Vilsack on How Dairy Exports Help Farmers

Despite trade headwinds, U.S. dairy producers are seeing real export gains that are crucial for supporting milk prices now and in years to come, said Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, in this week’s Dairy Defined Podcast. Vilsack, a former Iowa governor and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, discussed how U.S. dairy is establishing itself as a permanent presence in global markets, underscoring the increasingly important role dairy exports play as a driver of U.S. milk prices. By expanding export efforts, American dairy producers can take advantage of rising global demand, boosting income at family farms across the country, he said.

NMPF’s Bleiberg Looks at Legislative Year Ahead

Election years always pose challenges for getting things done on Capitol Hill, but dairy is well-positioned to make gains in 2020, according to Paul Bleiberg, the National Milk Producers Federation’s vice president of government relations. Senate approval of the USMCA trade agreement and a Senate plan on agricultural labor are only two topics in which positive steps could occur, said Bleiberg, NMPF’s chief policy staffer for the past two years. Child nutrition, transportation could also get put on the front burner, depending on what Congress decides to take up this year. “Certainly the completion of the USMCA process and the work in the Senate on ag labor are the top two priorities,” Bleiberg said. Bleiberg also discusses dairy’s role in the 2020 elections and how dairy producers and allies can affect policy.

NMPF’s Vitaliano Discusses Dairy’s Recovery

U.S. milk prices ended 2019 at their highest in five years. And while 2020 may see those gains cool off a bit, they should stay high enough for many producers to start recovering from the doldrums they faced in the second half of the 2010s. “The bleeding of the past several years will probably stop, to some extent,” said Vitaliano, NMPF’s chief economist and creator of the Dairy Market Report, a monthly drill-down on what’s driving dairy markets. Still, producers are going to be vigilant on keeping costs under control to stay competitive both domestically and internationally, given the cyclical nature of dairy prices, he said.

Mitloehner Explains How Dairy Can Fight Climate Change

To understand how dairy can be a part of climate solutions, it’s important to be clear about the role it plays in greenhouse gas emissions in the first place, said Dr. Frank Mitloehner, a professor in animal science at the University of California-Davis. “Comparing cows versus cars is a major flaw” in how climate impacts are measured, he said, because agriculture is part of a carbon life cycle, rather than an extraction of resources that have been in the ground for millions of years. “We know every detail about the impact of dairies on greenhouse gases, on air and water pollutants, and so forth. We know what these impacts are, and we know how to further mitigate those,” Mitloehner said.

National Young Cooperator Chairs Paul and Nancy Pyle Highlight Challenges Affecting Dairy’s Next Generation

Dairy’s future will depend on its next generation of farmers, many of whom are already hard at work on farms across the country. Young farmers are an important part of the agricultural landscape, and their continued involvement and leadership is needed to preserve a bright future for our dairy cooperatives. Ensuring these farmers can sustain their livelihoods is critical to the future of the dairy industry.

AMPI Chairman Schlangen Says Dairy’s Future More Secure

Despite a recent stretch of low prices, a better safety net for dairy producers and an improving market is making now a better time for dairy farmers, said Steve Schlangen, owner of a 60-cow farm outside Albany, MN and the chairman of Associated Milk Producers Inc. A dairy farmer since 1986, Schlangen said that if he had to start all over again, he’d go into dairy farming “in a heartbeat.” Of the new Dairy Margin Coverage program – the new safety net for producers that went into effect this year, “to know that’s going to be here for the next five years, it just makes you start focusing again on what plans you might have down the road, because you don’t have to worry about just surviving,” Schlangen said.

Mooney Says Dairy Needs to Lead

U.S. dairy farmers have been through challenging times, but there is light ahead if the sector proactively engages with the challenges of trade, the environment, climate and consumer tastes, said Randy Mooney, a Missouri dairy farmer and chairman of the National Milk Producers Federation. Mooney spoke this morning at the organization’s annual meeting, this in New Orleans. “We are a family that needs to work together to deal with all of these changes, just as we’ve always done,” he said. “Like all of you, I’m proud to be a dairy farmer, producing the most nutritious product in the world.” To listen to the full podcast, click here. You can also find the Dairy Defined podcast on Spotify and SoundCloud. Broadcast outlets may use the attached MP3 file. Please attribute information to NMPF.

Farmers Face Choices in 2020 DMC Signup

With farmers receiving a $300 million financial boost via the 2019 Dairy Margin Coverage Program, signup is now underway for the 2020 program. But every year is different, and Chris Galen, NMPF’s Senior Vice President for Member Services and Strategic Initiatives, said farmers should be paying attention to prices, production histories and financial priorities as they consider their 2020 signup options. “For those who aren’t locked in for the full five years, you have several choices to make,” he said. “You have to look at, do you want to ensure again at the $9.50 per hundredweight maximum coverage level, or is there a level below that, that you want to pay for? Again, the premiums are higher, the higher the levels of coverage that you choose.”

FARM Program Leads in Animal Care

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program spent last week at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, talking to farmers about the initiative’s updated standards for animal care. Emily Yeiser-Stepp, FARM director, said closer relationships between farmers and veterinarians, enhanced care standards for calves and non-ambulatory animals, and workforce training that spotlights quality animal care, all keep dairy a livestock leader in treatment of animals. “It’s critically important for the dairy community to demonstrate what we’re doing within the animal care space,” she said. “It allows, again, for that assurance for our customers and consumers to feel good about the dairy products that they’re purchasing.”

Trade deal with Japan a positive step. We need to go further.

President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister’s Shinzo Abe’s agreement this week to a limited trade deal between the two countries is an important development in expanding one of dairy’s most important trade relationships. Still, the announcement is only an initial step – more will need to be done to ensure that a U.S.-Japan trade pact’s full benefits for U.S. producers are realized. We at the National Milk Producers Federation, along with our colleagues at the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and producers and processors across the industry, are primed to work for further progress, helping to bolster the economic recovery we’re just beginning to see in our sector.

When Standards Go Horizontal, Be Careful

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday is holding a public meeting on “Horizontal Approaches to Food Standards of Identity Modernization” -- horizontal being the idea that by making changes to food standards of identity that cut across categories, goals like “innovation” and “flexibility” may be encouraged. Sounds great, right? Maybe – but Clay Detlefsen, senior vice president for regulatory and environmental affairs at NMPF, is providing comments at the meeting. He says the FDA should proceed with caution. Food products are unique, and an across-the-board approach could have unintended consequences that could harm consumers, he said. “It’s a nice approach on its face, but I think when you start to get into details, concerns start to surface,” he said. “Consumers definitely could be misled.”

“Plant-Based” Crock Shows Toll of FDA Inaction

In a move demanded by no one other than a marketing department desperate to rebrand its product away from a declining sales category, Country Crock, longtime maker of a vegetable-oil spread, this summer has begun peddling its new “Plant-Based Butter,” in the hopes that consumers will be fooled by this “old wine in a new bottle.

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