This week is Earth Week, and the U.S. dairy industry is celebrating by highlighting the sustainability efforts of dairy farmers. Jamie Jonker, National Milk Producers Federation Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Sustainability and Scientific Affairs, says the biggest goal for dairy farmers was developed a few years ago to be greenhouse gas neutral, or better, by 2050. Jonker spoke with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.
Author: Alan Bjerga
NMPF’s Bjerga on Ukraine’s Agricultural Challenges
NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses efforts to assist farmers in Ukraine and some of the challenges faced by the sector in an interview with WEKZ, Janesville, Wisconsin. Livestock producers face special challenges with feed and fuel, while farmers also are struggling with access to transportation.
NMPF’s Bjerga on Rising Input-Cost Impacts
NMPF Senior Vice President for Communications Alan Bjerga discusses the impact of higher input costs for dairy farmers on RFD-TV. Responses to higher prices vary widely depending on individual farm factors, such as whether a farm produces its own feed or has to buy it. Meanwhile, the outlook for near-record prices is raising hope among farmers, but is tempered by higher costs and greater global uncertainty.
NMPF’s Bjerga on Agriculture and Ukraine’s Humanitarian Crisis
NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses the widening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Europe on RFD-TV. NMPF’s Board of Directors last week moved to ask federal policymakers to expand all forms of domestic energy production to ease expected price spikes for farmers; meanwhile, the Board also encouraged NMPF to seek out ways dairy producers can offer humanitarian and agricultural assistance to Ukrainians, which is expected to be both a short- and longer-term effort.
NMPF’s Bjerga on How DMC Fights Inflation
NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga explains how the Dairy Margin Coverage Program helps protect farmers against rising feed-cost inflation by factoring in higher expenses even as milk prices reach records. Bjerga also talks about the potential market effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and spells his last name for listeners in an interview with WEKZ radio, Janesville, Wisconsin.
NMPF ‘Healthy’ Comments
NMPF WIC Comments
NMPF’s Galen Explains the 2020 DMC Program
NMPF Statement on Califf FDA Confirmation
Statement from NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern on the confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf as FDA Commissioner:
“We congratulate Dr. Robert Califf on his confirmation as FDA Commissioner. We are cheering for his success at a particularly challenging time, given the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need to address the opioids crisis and other public health issues. We are heartened that, in addition to these concerns, he has also cited addressing the proliferation of plant-based products mislabeled as dairy a ‘priority’ issue under his leadership.
“Nutritional confusion over the products is real, with meaningful public health implications, and the Biden Administration has promised guidance by mid-year. We look forward to working with Dr. Califf as he resolves this long-standing, and growing, concern.”
NMPF’s Galen on the Need for DMC Signup
Chris Galen, NMPF’s senior vice president for member services and strategic initiatives, talks with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters about the recent extension in signup and why all dairy producers benefit from the program. USDA last week announced an extension of signup for the program until March 25.
NMPF’s Bjerga on WOTUS Efforts
NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses NMPF’s leadership in ensuring dairy voices are heard in proposed revision to Waters of the U.S. regulations on RFD-Radio, hosted by the Illinois Farm Bureau. NMPF submitted comments to EPA on Monday along with the American Farm Bureau Federation and other organizations expressing concern with the pace of Biden Administration revisions, asking for clear regulatory language and policies that respect legal precedent and the Clean Water Act.
NMPF’s Bjerga on Dairy’s Continued Consumer Strength
Despite the disruptions of the pandemic era, consumer dairy sales keep climbing, even after the turbulence of 2020 is taken into account, NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga says in an interview with RFD-TV. Butter, cheese and yogurt sales are all over 2019 levels, and even though fluid milk declined, whole milk — in other words, milk that tastes like milk — increased.
