Hoard's Dairyman:
NMPF tracking state-level dairy issues
April 16, 2026
By Sage Saffran, Senior Manager, Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives
State legislatures play a critical role in shaping the national policy landscape. Two recent examples — Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws and raw milk legislation — demonstrate how state-level actions are driving broader conversations while creating immediate challenges for dairy farmers and their cooperatives, a phenomenon the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is tracking more closely as a service to its members.
EPR laws shift responsibility for managing packaging waste from consumers and municipalities to producers. States including California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington are implementing frameworks, all of which require manufacturers to fund and support systems for collecting, recycling, and disposing of packaging materials.
The implications for dairy producers are significant. Dairy products depend heavily on packaging to ensure food safety, extend shelf life, and maintain product quality. Alternative materials may help reduce compliance costs, but options remain limited due to food safety and freshness requirements, as well as the demands of large-scale production.
A growing patchwork of state regulations is further complicating the challenge. Companies operating across multiple states must navigate differing requirements, making the same product subject to different rules depending on where it is sold. This inconsistency increases both costs and operational complexity. NMPF is evaluating how to best address this regulatory patchwork, which comes as some lawsuits question states’ authority to impose these fees.
Raw milk legislation is also gathering state-level momentum, fueled by segments of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement. Iowa, Oklahoma, and Michigan lawmakers are considering bills that would loosen restrictions on the sale of unpasteurized milk.
Health experts continue to warn about the risks associated with raw milk consumption, noting that unpasteurized milk can harbor dangerous pathogens such as E. coli, salmonella, and Listeria, which pose serious health threats. These risks are especially higher for children, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Pasteurization, a science-based process used for more than 100 years, remains a critical safeguard that eliminates harmful bacteria while preserving milk’s nutritional benefits. NMPF is actively advocating at both the state and national levels against the sale of raw milk for direct consumption due to the heightened risk of foodborne illness.
NMPF has stepped up monitoring of these and other emerging state-level issues. Recognizing that state policies often lay the groundwork for national action, NMPF is strengthening its coordination with member cooperatives and state dairy policy associations to better understand evolving regulations and support a more unified industry response.
This effort includes enhanced communication and collaboration across states. One key forum is our annual state dairy association summit, scheduled for July 14 and 15 in Arlington, Va. The meeting brings together industry stakeholders to discuss developments such as EPR implementation and raw milk legislation and explore how NMPF can best support state-level engagement.
As these issues continue to evolve, they highlight the growing influence of state policymaking on national debates. For the dairy sector, proactive engagement at the state level will remain essential to navigating change and shaping future policy outcomes.
This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on April 16, 2026.
