Author: Alan Bjerga

NMPF’s Detlefsen on the False Promises of ‘Lab-based’ Dairy

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Much like plant-based imitators, precision fermentation technology is a sector working to create so-called animal-free dairy products. However, Clay Detlefsen, National Milk Producers Federation Senior Vice President and Staff Counsel, says a real dairy product cannot be made with precision fermentation technology. “We’re seeing a lot of folks right now really misleading the public as to what they’re doing. You cannot make a real dairy product with fermentation technology,” he said in an interview with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.

NMPF’s Bjerga on Lab-Based Dairy Alternatives

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NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses the need for transparent labeling on so-called “lab-based” dairy products, on RFD-TV. Current alternatives that replicate a single dairy protein may lack essential micronutrients or the interactions that take place as part of being an animal product, while sustainability claims may be overstated.

NMPF’s Bjerga on Dairy’s Commitment to Conservation

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NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses on RFD-TV how a meeting with key lawmakers in Pennsylvania highlighted dairy’s conservation stewardship as Farm Bill discussions begin. Clint Burkholder, owner of Burk-Lea Farms in Chambersburg, PA, and a member of the Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, last Friday hosted several members of Congress, including Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson, R-PA and top Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, as well as other area dairy farmers for a farm tour and roundtable discussion on the importance of agricultural conservation.

NMPF’s Bjerga on Declining Plant-Based Beverage Sales

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As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans guidance on the use of dairy terms in plant-based beverages, fake milks are seeing declining sales. NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications, Alan Bjerga breaks down the numbers, showing how most plant-based beverage categories are declining, and how even those that are rising are doing so at the expense of other plant-based products, showing a category that’s starting to reach its ceiling. Interview on RFD-TV.

 

Dairy Unites Around National Dairy Month

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National Dairy Month each June means a chance to celebrate all that U.S. dairy does to nourish consumers around the world and highlight the industry’s success, advancements and efforts to build a better future. RFD-TV’s Janet Atkison hosts a round-table discussion with DMI’s Jessica Learman, NMPF’s Alan Bjerga and Galen Smith, owner of Coldspring Farms in Deming, WA.

NMPF’s Bjerga on Ukraine Food Crisis, Dairy’s Humanitarian Support

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NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses the unfolding food crisis in Ukraine, where world leaders are trying to figure out how to transport its crisis in the midst of war, in an RFD-TV interview from Krakow, Poland. Bjerga notes the efforts of the dairy community to help those in need and highlights NMPF’s role as an outlet for support.

NMPF’s Castaneda on Dairy Trade With Canada

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Jaime Castaneda, NMPF’s Executive Vice President for Policy Development & Strategy, discusses Canada’s lack of willingness to honor its dairy commitments under USMCA on RFD-TV. A dispute resolution panel under the trade agreement has found Canada’s system of allocating access to its dairy market to the U.S. in violation of the deal. NMPF is urging an aggressive U.S. response.

NMPF’s Morris on Infant Formula Shortage

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NMPF Senior Vice President for Trade Shawna Morris discusses the current nationwide infant formula shortage and ways to solve the immediate crisis, speaking with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. While temporary import increases can help alleviate short-term shortages, current problems involve supply-chain shortfalls doesn’t reflect a lack of inputs, she said: “The milk, the ingredients, that the plant would need in order to produce formula, no challenge there. Instead, what we have is a problem more on the processing capacity piece.”

NMPF’s Bjerga on White House Nutrition Conference

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NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses the planned White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health later this year, the first major White House conference on nutrition in more than 50 years. Bjerga discusses the changes in U.S. nutrition and nutrition policy during that time, and how keeping dairy’s place in diets prominent is critical toward ensuring a healthy, hunger-free future for the United States, on WEKZ radio.

USDEC’s Loux Discusses Dairy Export Challenges

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William Loux, vice president of global economic affairs for the U.S. Dairy Export Council, discusses the short-term challenges of high input costs and lower milk production for U.S. dairy exports. He also details the bright longer-term future for dairy sales overseas on the Agriculture of America podcast.

NMPF’s Bjerga on the Dairy Economy, FMMO Modernization and Fake Milk

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NMPF Senior Vice President for Communications, Alan Bjerga, discusses dairy issues ranging from pricing to fake milk with KASM radio of Albany, MN, at the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Issues Forum in Washington, DC. Record milk prices are coming with higher costs as well; meanwhile, NMPF is positioned to lead on Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization, a farmer-led process.

NMPF’s Bjerga on How Dairy Farmers Face High Inflation

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NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses how dairy farmers are facing high inflation, with rising feed and labor costs eating into record milk prices, on RFD-TV. USDA reported last week that March saw the highest-ever monthly U.S. average all-milk price, at $25.90/cwt. This was twenty cents per cwt higher than the previous record, in September 2014.