NMPF’s Vice President for Government Relations, Paul Bleiberg, discusses new USDA payments for dairy producers and the effectiveness of the Dairy Margin Coverage Program on the “Adams on Agriculture” podcast.
Author: Alan Bjerga
NMPF’s Bleiberg on HEROES Act
Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s vice president for government relations, discusses plans to aid dairy farmers via House of Representatives legislation on the Adams on Agriculture podcast.
NMPF’s Bjerga on Falling Dairy Revenues
NMPF’s Senior Vice President of Communications, Alan Bjerga, explains why dairy-revenue declines are being felt hardest now and how that makes USDA loss calculations key for future assistance, on RFD-TV.
NMPF’s Bleiberg Discusses New Federal Aid for Dairy
NMPF’s vice president for government affairs, Paul Bleiberg, discusses the USDA’s recently announced aid to dairy farmers, and where assistance efforts go from here, on the Adams on Agriculture podcast.
NMPF CEO Jim Mulhern discusses dairy’s request for federal aid
NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern discusses the dairy industry’s request for federal aid on the “Adams on Agriculture” podcast.
Dairy Farmers Elated at Homeland Security’s Reaffirmation of Food and Agriculture as a Critical Industry
ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Milk Producers Federation, the largest organization of U.S. dairy farmers, applauded the Trump Administration’s explanation that the food and agriculture is a critical infrastructure industry in the wake of the coronavirus national emergency, a move that encourages state and local authorities to allow farms and the entire food-supply chain to continue operating as usual amid current and potential restrictions created to stem the spread of the virus.
“This declaration allows farmers to do what they do best – feed U.S. consumers – in a time of acute need and anxiety,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “Agriculture is working around the clock to ensure timely delivery of safe, abundant food. That’s what farmers always do – but in a time of unprecedented public-health concern, a fully functioning food system is even more critical to national health and well-being.”
The administration’s designation of “essential critical infrastructure workforce” was announced today by the Department of Homeland Security. NMPF has been deeply involved with the federal government in food supply-chain discussions throughout the coronavirus crisis: Its senior vice president of regulatory and environmental affairs, Clay Detlefsen, is the private-sector chair of the Food and Agricultural Sector Coordinating Council, an industry-government collaboration set up after the Sept. 2001 terror attacks to share information between government agencies and private businesses.
The Homeland Security declaration reflects how effectively industry is working with government and how much that relationship has progressed in this crisis, Detlefsen said. “We’re witnessing incredible collaboration among the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other government agencies and all sectors of the food industry. That’s been crucial to keeping supply chains running during these crucial days for public health and confidence.
“These key partnerships are firing on all cylinders,” Detlefsen said. “Agriculture’s appropriate designation as a critical industry should bring relief to farm families who want to help their country as well as to consumers who now know the world’s greatest agricultural producers can meet their needs unimpeded.”
Note: Listen to this podcast for more on Detlefsen’s role in the crisis and his thoughts on government response.
NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern Discusses the Coronavirus and Dairy
National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern discusses challenges facing the dairy supply chain, NMPF’s role as a resource in federal decision-making and how dairy farmers will do their part to weather the coronavirus crisis and continue serving consumers on the “Adams on Agriculture” podcast.
Coronavirus Update
As cases of the coronavirus disease (also known as COVID-19) continue to be found in the United States, food-industry professionals are monitoring public health while preparing for any market effects. The spread of the virus has raised concerns about how it may affect public health as well as our economy, including dairy production. This page offers general resources about the virus, its spread, the disease it causes, and how people can protect themselves, as well as NMPF resources focused on dairy’s response to the pandemic.
Pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe.
The FDA has confirmed that heat treatment kills other coronaviruses, so pasteurization is expected to also inactivate this virus. In addition, there is no evidence that this strain of coronavirus is present in domestic livestock such as cattle. The virus is spread through aerosol transmission and close human contact, not through food products.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES
NMPF in the News:
- NMPF Reassures Consumers as Safe, Steady Dairy Production Continues
- NMPF March 13 statement on coronavirus response
- NMPF on RFD-TV discussion of coronavirus and dairy impact (March 12)
Additional Coronavirus Information:
- This fact sheet on coronavirus
- The USDA’s coronavirus response and information page: https://www.usda.gov/coronavirus
- The FDA’s coronavirus page: https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/mcm-issues/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-frequently-asked-questions
- The CDC’s coronavirus page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
- Case tracker, courtesy of Johns Hopkins: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
NMPF Ready to Help Dairy Farmers Meet Coronavirus Challenges
In response to the continued spread of COVID-19 (the coronavirus) in the United States and the virus’s potential impact on domestic and international markets, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern said the following:
“As the organization representing U.S. dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own, the National Milk Producers Federation stands ready to assist its members in addressing coronavirus challenges. From possible damages to domestic and world markets, to supply chain labor disruptions on the farm, at the processing plant or in transporting milk, the potential ramifications for dairy are wide-ranging. We will devote our resources to the best of our ability to helping dairy farmers and cooperatives respond to whatever challenges they may face.
“The good news is that the U.S. dairy supply is safe, and production of high-quality products continues unimpeded. The FDA has confirmed that heat treatment kills other coronaviruses, so pasteurization is expected to also inactivate this virus. In addition, there is no evidence that this strain of coronavirus is present in domestic livestock such as cattle.
“Still, all producers will remain vigilant as what has now been labeled a pandemic continues its path. We will continue to answer questions and offer information to help our members. Policy solutions also may be needed for producers whose operations have been affected by the virus. In keeping with our mission of serving our members, regardless of the challenge, we will work with lawmakers and regulators to ensure a safe and adequate supply of milk and to mitigate potential economic harm to dairy farmers.”
NMPF’s Bleiberg on Senate Ag-Labor Efforts
NMPF’s vice president for government relations, Paul Bleiberg, discusses the potential for a Senate agricultural labor bill this year — and NMPF’s member fly-in to discuss the issue with individual Senators — on the Adams on Agriculture podcast.
Coronavirus Fact Sheet
Working to Improve Dairy Labor, Inside and Outside Washington
As the voice of dairy farmers in Washington, the National Milk Producers Federation constantly works for policy solutions to help our members succeed. As an organization that advances the interests of dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own, we strive to help producers meet their evolving needs regardless of the prevailing policy environment in Washington. Our ongoing efforts to improve dairy’s labor situation are a clear example of both priorities at work.
Agricultural labor reform legislation is a top Washington priority for us in 2020. We’re doing all we can to advance the policy process even though it’s a contentious election year. We’re also building the new FARM Workforce Development program, which will give farmers tools to better manage their workforce needs in the here and now. One effort aims to create a reliable ag worker program that would alleviate labor shortages and allow for future growth; the other focuses on human resources and safety management to ensure the highest quality dairy workforce here and now. The dual approach embodies NMPF’s comprehensive, farmer-driven problem-solving.
About farm-labor legislation: We celebrated a win last December when the House of Representatives passed its first ag-labor bill since 1986. The initiative created a workable guest-worker program for year-round agricultural sectors, including dairy, and offered a vehicle that can be improved and reconciled with any bill on this topic the Senate passes this year. But of course, key to that strategy is actual Senate passage – and on that front we are working diligently to pave a way forward.
We’re anticipating a Senate bill will be introduced this spring containing changes to the H-2A visa program so it can work for dairy – and stabilization of our current workforce. Observers of behind-the-scenes negotiations expect that the Republican-led Senate will likely make improvements to H2A that build on the House’s initial effort. Indications are that USDA is working to keep ag labor reform on the agenda and that the White House has spoken with Republican senators on this topic, suggesting that a compromise is still possible.
Any Senate bill would likely need to be considered before Congress leaves for its summer recess to have a chance to be reconciled with the House legislation in time for final congressional approval this year. We’re making sure dairy’s voice is heard throughout the process – including by having a large group of our dairy advocates from across the country make Capitol Hill visits this month to talk with their Senators. Ag labor reform is crucial for future prosperity. This potential opportunity isn’t one we can afford to let pass by.
But working for improvements in Washington isn’t enough to help farmers navigating an increasingly complex labor market on their own farms every day. That’s where FARM Workforce Development (WFD) comes in. FARM is developing a guide to best practices that offers assistance, not requirements — designed to help farms improve their HR and safety management; identify which best practices will be most useful to implement on their farm; and track improvement over time.
The WFD program area as a whole is focused on farm-level best-practices. And by helping farmers better lead their workforces, it also provides important assurances to dairy customers, an increasingly important consideration in a consumer conscious age.
A WFD evaluation tool was tested in a pilot program involving 10 cooperatives and 28 dairies that provided feedback, ranging in size from 120 cows to 18,000. We also solicited public comments on the tool. Overall response to the tool was positive and constructive, and the tool itself will be discussed and presented for approval at National Milk’s Board meeting later this month. FARM Workforce Development may not generate the headlines of immigration legislation, but it is very important – because farmers won’t prosper tomorrow if they don’t thrive in the here and now.
That is, after all, what we are striving to do. There may be no more emotional or complex an issue in dairy today than labor markets. But that’s exactly why engagement is so crucial. Farmer concerns spur action – and progress – inside the Beltway and far beyond it. It’s all how we serve our members, and our commitment will not waver.
