NMPF’s Senior Vice President Chris Galen provides Dairy Radio Now listeners the highlights of National Milk’s 2024 annual meeting in Phoenix, which runs Oct. 20-23. The annual conference, held jointly with the dairy checkoff, will feature keynote presentations on new revenue opportunities for farmers, an assessment of the upcoming November elections, a psychographic profile of the farmer of the future, and a presentation from the CEO of Domino’s Pizza. The meeting also brings together the Young Cooperator program representatives from NMPF’s member co-ops.
Author: Chris Galen
NMPF’s Rice Updates Dairy Radio Now Listeners on New Export Challenges
NMPF’s Director of Trade Policy Tony Rice tells Dairy Radio Now listeners how NMPF is working to prevent a loss of milk powder exports to Colombia, which is taking unjustified steps to raise tariffs on U.S. products. Rice also provides an outlook of the potential impact on the dairy sector if a threatened labor strike materializes next week in Eastern and Southern ports.
Dairy Radio Now Listeners Learn of House Hearing Examining FDA Labeling Failure
NMPF’s Executive Vice President Paul Bleiberg explains for Dairy Radio Now listeners why the House of Representatives held a hearing this week to examine how the Food and Drug Administration is focusing its resources. Bleiberg said Deputy FDA Commissioner Jim Jones faced scrutiny from lawmakers about the agency’s failure to enforce standards of identity for the labeling of plant-based dairy imitators, a point NMPF has been raising for years.
NMPF Board to Consider Refreshed CWT Program in August
NMPF’s Senior Vice President of Member Services, Chris Galen, outlines for Dairy Radio Now listeners the process underway in 2024 to revise the Cooperatives Working Together program. Since 2003, CWT has served as a farmer-funded self-help program; now, farmers and coops are considering a package of changes to CWT to make it even more impactful in helping sell U.S.-made dairy foods in foreign markets. Galen reports that the NMPF Board of Directors will vote on those improvements on Aug. 22.
NMPF Defending Need for Dairy Foods in Dietary Guidelines Refresh
NMPF’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Miquela Hanselman, explains to Dairy Radio Now listeners what to expect in the coming year from the federal government’s twice-a-decade-effort to generate food consumption recommendations through the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. NMPF has been providing input the past two years to the scientific experts considering how dairy foods fit into an overall healthy diet, as the refreshed guidelines are due in 2025.
FARM Program Updates Animal Care Standards
NMPF’s Senior Director of FARM Animal Care, Beverly Hampton Phifer, tells Dairy Radio Now listeners about the series of changes being implemented this summer to the FARM Animal Care program. The program is now initiating its 5th version, featuring updates to its standards that reflect best practices for dairy cattle. The FARM program is also updating its newer, voluntary environmental and farm worker programs as those areas continues to draw attention from customer and consumers.
NMPF Makes Progress on Future Direction of CWT Program
NMPF’s Senior Vice President Chris Galen explains for Dairy Radio Now listeners the series of changes that NMPF is reviewing to improve the effectiveness of its self-help program, Cooperatives Working Together. A member task force has been assessing ideas to revamp the program and expand its export activities starting in 2025.
NMPF Young Cooperators Take Dairy’s Message to Capitol Hill
NMPF’s Senior Director Theresa Sweeney-Murphy tells Dairy Radio Now listeners about the recent visit to Washington by National Milk’s Young Cooperator representatives, who came to Capitol Hill this week to advocate for the dairy community on key issues like the farm bill and proper dairy foods labeling.
House Ag Committee Tackles Farm Bill; NMPF’s Bleiberg Outlines What’s in It
NMPF’s Executive Vice President Paul Bleiberg explains for listeners of Dairy Radio Now what’s in the Farm Bill draft for dairy farmers as the House Agriculture Committee votes on May 23. Bleiberg describes how the measure handles the economic safety net for farmers, and assesses the prospects for the farm bill measure after this spring on Capitol Hill.
NMPF’s Galen Explains Latest Development in Farm Bill Process in Congress
NMPF’s Senior Vice President Chris Galen explains for listeners of Dairy Radio Now how the House and Senate agriculture committees are each now seeking to advance their respective versions of the 2024 Farm Bill. Galen describes how the measures may affect dairy policy, and what the next steps are for lawmakers this spring on Capitol Hill.
NMPF’S Hanselman Explains New USDA School Meal Dairy Regulations
NMPF’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Miquela Hanselman, explains to Dairy Radio Now listeners the changes to the federal school lunch program meal requirements just announced by USDA. The new rules will maintain a place at the table for flavored milk, while also making modest adjustments to sodium levels that won’t negatively impact cheese offerings in school meals.
NMPF’s Paul Bleiberg Outlines USDA Decision On WIC Dairy Purchases
NMPF’s Executive Vice President Paul Bleiberg gives Dairy Radio Now the background on this week’s decision by USDA to adjust spending for WIC program recipients, and how that will impact dairy purchases, including milk, as the changes are implemented.
