Author: Rachel Ravencraft

USTR Calls Out Misuse of Geographical Indications as Major Trade Barrier

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) said they appreciated the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to spotlight protection of common food names in the agency’s 2025 Special 301 Report released today.

The annual report outlines major global intellectual property concerns. It highlighted the European Union’s persistent campaign to monopolize common names—such as “parmesan” and “feta”— through protectionist geographical indication (GI) policies. These efforts restrict the use of widely recognized food and beverage terms to only specific European producers and effectively cut U.S. producers out of certain key markets.

“The European Union’s approach to geographical indications is entirely unacceptable. It intentionally crowds out fair competition by restricting market access for U.S. and international producers,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. “Too many trading partners have been coerced into imposing trade barriers for products using common food and beverage names. We appreciate USTR’s ongoing recognition of this issue but  urge the U.S. government to stop trading partners to succumbing to European pressures and imposing trade barriers on U.S. products.”

“Europe’s misuse of geographical indications is nothing more than a trade barrier dressed up as intellectual property protection,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “It not only unfairly strips American producers of the right to use common, widely understood terms, but significantly handcuffs commercial export opportunities. We welcome USTR’s focus on this issue and appreciate the administration’s dedication to protecting U.S. market access rights.”

“Last year, the United States imported nearly $3 billion more in dairy products from the European Union than we exported to Europe. Europe’s abuse of the GI system is a significant reason for that deficit,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “EU GI schemes create a two-tiered system that benefits European producers and stamps out competition. We appreciate that USTR is addressing this unfair practice and look forward to continuing to work together to level the playing field for U.S. dairy producers.”

CCFN submitted comments to the agency in January, which broke down the many markets where U.S. dairy producers’ common name rights are being threatened. NMPF and USDEC filed supporting comments noting the urgency for action to address this pressing trade barrier. CCFN Senior Director Shawna Morris built on those comments at a Feb. 19 USTR hearing, where she underlined how the EU misuses geographical indications and why it’s imperative for the U.S. government to match the EU’s efforts on common names.

NMPF’s Jonker, Hain See Bird Flu Lessons One Year Later

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Dairy farmers have boosted biosecurity and researchers have learned much about the H5N1 bird flu virus in dairy cattle one year after its introduction, top NMPF experts said in a Dairy Defined podcast. Still, the hope is that the virus may leave the dairy herd completely. 

“We’re still learning things about the virus and how it’s being transmitted from farm to farm, and we still need some answers on that, but hang in there, we’re going to get through this,” said Dr. Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s chief science officer. “I do believe we’re going to eliminate the virus from the U.S. dairy cattle population. I think it’s just a matter of when, not if.” 

Since the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus was first reported in cattle in March 2024, more than 1,000 dairy herds have been infected, Jonker said. Still, successful eradication has taken place in some areas, and the lack of evolution of the viruses within cattle has created hope. Dr. Meggan Hain, NMPF’s chief veterinary officer, said biosecurity practices are key to containment and elimination. The National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program offers a wealth of materials that can assist, she said.  

Bird flu has “given us a chance to really learn some of the lessons of, where do we have opportunities, where are there things that we’ll want to sort of dig into so that we’re better prepared in the future if we do get challenges,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of things we can take away from this that we can really make improvements on.” 

To learn more about biosecurity responses in dairy, visit the FARM Program website at nationaldairyfarm.com. For more of the Dairy Defined podcast, visit Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music and search under the podcast name “Dairy Defined”. 

NMPF Reaffirms Milk Safety After FDA Program Suspension

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation today reaffirmed the safety of milk, citing the numerous safeguards and rigorous testing procedures still in place after FDA announced a temporary suspension of one testing program, which the agency confirmed played a minor role in its overall food safety protocols. 

“The milk proficiency testing program is a periodic review of the testing capacities of laboratories in FDA’s network, and is not used to directly test milk or other dairy products,” an FDA spokesperson said, referring to its Grade “A” milk proficiency testing (PT) program in a statement shared with NMPF. “The temporary suspension to the Proficiency Testing program does not impact routine testing of milk destined for pasteurization, or milk and dairy testing in illness investigations. The FDA continues to have confidence in the safety of the commercial, pasteurized milk supply.” 

NMPF would like to be clear: The U.S. milk supply is safe. All routine quality and safety checks on farms, during milk transport, and at processing plants are being conducted as they always have been, in coordination with both state and federal partners.

NMPF has full confidence in the state, federal, and industry partnerships that work together to implement the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, which has kept the U.S. milk supply safe for more than 100 years.  

Snacks the Way We Like Them

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The Wall Street Journal article last week was ostensibly about Ozempic, and how weight-loss drugs are curbing consumer appetites. But it’s the stats about snacking that stood out. 

According to data compiled by the Journal using Nielsen and BNP Paribas Exane estimates, U.S. snack food consumption is under pressure. Volume sales in 2024 for pretzels and crackers were flat; chocolates were down 5 percent; ready to eat popcorn, were down more than 7 percent. “Craveability,” a food-industry buzzword of the past few years, isn’t craved the way it used to be. Consumers – some of them using medications that limit appetites – just aren’t into gobbling up little pieces of sweet and salty things like they used to.  

But some snack categories are still up. Way up. #1 on the Journal’s list? Greek yogurt, with volumes up 12.9 percent in 2024. Runner-up? Cottage cheese, increasing 11.8 percent. Nutrition shakes and meat snacks also rose.  

The common thread? Protein. And the clear preference? Dairy.  

Turns out that when appetites are curbed, but nutrient needs remain, a nutrient-dense, appetite-satisfying product meets the need. In 2025, highly processed is out; high protein is in. And dairy is meeting that demand.  

Yet another reason to celebrate. So go ahead, indulge. Open that refrigerator, grab a yogurt or a cottage cheese. There are plenty of snack-sized options to choose from. It’s a healthy choice, and a worthwhile indulgence. And when you do that, you’re not just helping a dairy farmer. You’re a trend-setter, too.   

NMPF Celebrates Senate Support for Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation celebrated strong bipartisan Senate support for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act as senators begin considering this critical legislation.   

In a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry hearing held Tuesday to review the measure, committee members and panelists highlighted the role this bill could have in increasing student milk consumption and nutrition access while also potentially decreasing waste.  

“NMPF commends Sens. Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Peter Welch, D-VT, for advocating for our nation’s students to have more access to nutrient-rich dairy by allowing schools to offer whole milk with school meals,” NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud said. “We know that Americans are under-consuming dairy products, and as we heard today, students have said they want the milk they are familiar with and that they find satisfying. For many students, that’s whole milk.” 

NMPF also thanks Chairman John Boozman, R-AR, and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, for voicing their support for the bill. 

“We are grateful to Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar for convening today’s hearing, and we look forward to working with them and the bill’s bipartisan sponsors to move it forward,” Doud said. 

The House of Representatives is considering similar legislation led by House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson, R-PA, and Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA. The bill was approved by the House Education & the Workforce Committee with bipartisan support Feb. 12, and it now awaits floor action. Similar legislation passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan margin in 2023 but was not taken up in the Senate. 

A Permanent Section 199(A): Now That’s Beautiful

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The legislation President Trump has called a “big, beautiful bill” is slowly making its way through Washington. The House and Senate have both approved blueprints for the plan, but months of hard negotiations may lie ahead.

And while the tax provisions that make up the heart of the legislation will touch every American, one specific part of it — an initiative called Section 199(A) — is one we’re watching especially closely as talks unfold. We’re working across the agriculture and cooperative communities to get this critical part of the 2017 tax legislation that lapses this year made permanent in a new law. And with tax season upon us, it’s a good time to explain why this is so important for agriculture and dairy cooperatives.

Section 199(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, also known as the Qualified Business Income Deduction, provides a deduction of up to 20% on qualified business income for certain pass-through entities, including partnerships, S-corporations, and sole proprietorships. Dairy cooperatives, which are structured as pass-through entities, benefit from this deduction as it reduces their taxable income, allowing them to retain more earnings, which then can be reinvested into the cooperative.

That’s critical to help co-ops stay competitive in today’s marketplace. When Congress cut the corporate tax rate in 2017 from 35% to 21%, it recognized that other forms of businesses — including cooperatives — should also have an equitable tax reduction. Section 199A does that. It’s helped farmer cooperatives and their owners navigate through a global pandemic, geopolitical conflict, supply chain problems, and record inflation. Allowing Section 199A to expire would raise taxes on agricultural cooperatives and their farmer-owners at a moment of renewed challenges; making it permanent will remove a critical piece of uncertainty for farmers and give them a chance to plan a brighter future.

Including Section 199(A) in tax legislation is critical for the continued economic stability of dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own. It helps co-ops make capital investments. It encourages investment in innovative technologies, sustainable practices, and advanced infrastructure, all of which enables them to produce high-quality products at lower costs. And in the end, that benefits consumers too — by providing them with affordable and nutritious dairy products.

Making 199(A) permanent also supports the whole reason the cooperative system was established under the Capper-Volstead Act passed more than a century ago, by keeping the playing field level with other businesses that benefit from tax provisions other than 199(A). Dairy cooperatives operate on principles of mutual assistance, democratic governance, and equitable distribution of benefits. Section 199(A) aligns with these principles by providing a tax benefit that is shared among cooperative members.

Dairy needs Section 199(A) to thrive. That’s why we’ve been working across not only agriculture, but across the entire cooperative community, signing letters that include signatures ranging from community bankers to building contractors and that cut across the entire U.S. economy. Section 199(A) doesn’t only support dairy farmers of all sizes, in all regions, and the rural communities they support — it ensures economic stability, enhances competitiveness, and serves consumers all across America.

That’s big. And, it’s beautiful. As the bill makes its way to the president’s desk this year, we’ll be fighting for Section 199(A) at every turn. It’s the right thing to do for dairy — and as it turns out, for everyone in our rural communities too.

Gregg Doud

President & CEO, NMPF

 

A win for everyone

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

By Paul Bleiberg, Executive Vice President, Government Relations, National Milk Producers Federation

Amid a frenetic daily pace in Washington, Congress is slowly moving toward renewing the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a major tax legislation that President Trump signed into law during his first year in office. The provisions are due to expire this year. The House and Senate have each approved their blueprints for the plan, but challenging negotiations lie ahead.

The National Milk Producers Federation is focusing attention on one piece: The Section 199A deduction, which is vital to dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own and merits being made permanent in this year’s tax law.

Section 199(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, known as the Qualified Business Income Deduction, was enacted in the 2017 tax law. It provides an up to 20% deduction on qualified business income for certain pass-through entities. It includes the benefits previously afforded to agricultural cooperatives under the earlier Section 199 tax deduction for domestic production. Dairy cooperatives benefit through their domestic manufacturing activity; they can either pass the deduction directly back to their member-owners or reinvest it into the cooperative.

This important public policy boosts economic stability in rural America, but it wasn’t an easy road to this point. Early in 2017, congressional tax writers indicated they were likely to repeal the previous Section 199 that dairy cooperatives had used for many years. Congress believed the previous provision would be redundant because most of the domestic manufacturers that had benefited from it would now benefit from the planned reduction in the corporate tax rate.

This would not have been the case for cooperatives, which don’t file taxes as corporations. Accordingly, farmers were staring down a significant tax increase, so NMPF got to work making a case for the important role Section 199 played in helping ag cooperatives stay competitive in today’s marketplace. House members wrote letters, Senators filed amendments, and stakeholders spoke loudly and in unison in support of preserving the benefits of Section 199.

The result of agriculture’s united efforts was the inclusion of farmer-owned cooperatives in the new Section 199A deduction. Letting it expire this year would raise taxes on dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own while other businesses enjoy continued tax relief. Congress should make this important deduction permanent to maintain certainty for producers and help them prosper in the coming years.

As dairy prepares for the hard work that lies ahead, the agriculture community is again speaking with one voice. NMPF is grateful to the many producer associations, cooperatives, and agricultural partners that have joined a letter in support of making Section 199(A) permanent in this year’s tax legislation. This early strong showing underscores the consensus behind continuing this key policy — a consensus that will be essential to getting the job done.

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on March 27, 2025.

Dairy’s Pronounced Advantage Over Plant-Based Alternatives

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

“This is a list of ingredients from foods — carrageenan, riboflavin, monosodium glutamate and 20 others that I can’t pronounce.” – HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

This column isn’t here to call out specific food ingredients — carrageenan, for example, has made many an ice cream pint hold together well, proving the value of the raw seaweed extract. But if the idea is to take a more critical look at food ingredients that sound more like science experiments gone bad than healthy, nutritious products, we might just offer one helpful hint: Take a look at the plant-based “dairy” substitutes section and see what you find.

It takes a lot of substances to turn a slurry of chemicals, emollients, emulsifiers, additives and colorings — plus few almonds, oats, etc. — into something that looks like a dairy product. Things like, “mixed tocopherols.” Or “gellan gum,” (which, admittedly, is used in ice cream if you want it to stay stable when placed in flaming alcohol). Or “calcium disodium edta,” (which is also good at treating lead poisoning), among others.

Again, not casting aspersions on anything, just noting that your grandmother probably didn’t talk much about these ingredients over Thanksgiving dinner. Meanwhile, milk is made of… milk, with some vitamin fortification that dates back nearly a century. Cheese is made of… milk, with some additives that follow processes developed over generations. And other dairy products are made of… milk, with whatever else helps keep it safe and stable for consumers who are, in the end, experiencing the same nutrition and wholeness their forebears would have recognized in earlier, less pronunciation-challenged times.

This revelation isn’t anything new: In fact, Dairy Defined did a whole quiz on this theme in 2022 that’s still fun to complete. But it bears repeating as food policy gets a new look. Plant-based products or products derived from the fermentation of a fungus that are engineered to superficially resemble dairy are, by definition, imitations or (poor) substitutes of something that was already out there, already serving a public that understood what it did and what was in it. But in this case, the imposters want to call their product the same thing as the real thing, implying equivalencies in nutrition that just aren’t there and creating confusion in the marketplace.

And that needs to stop.

The last three FDA commissioners, serving both Republicans and Democrats, all recognized the problem — all that’s left is action. Regardless of one’s feelings about specific ingredients or the values they bring to specific foods, being transparent about what something is and what it isn’t, is an important principle from which to build.

Truth in labeling. Not hard to say. And long past time to do.

USDEC and NMPF Sign Partnership with Guatemalan Dairy Association

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and Guatemalan Dairy Development Association (ASODEL), signed a memorandum of understanding yesterday that will strengthen ties between the U.S. and Guatemalan dairy industries as they advocate for free and fair trade policies and promote greater dairy consumption.

The agreement outlines objectives aimed at strengthening communication and knowledge-sharing between the two industries, underscoring the economic and social significance of the dairy sector, and addressing trade barriers that negatively impact both producers and consumers alike.

The agreement outlines objectives aimed at strengthening communication and knowledge-sharing between the two industries, underscoring the economic and social significance of the dairy sector, and addressing trade barriers that negatively impact both producers and consumers alike.

“This agreement marks an important milestone in the U.S. dairy industry’s ongoing dedication to collaborating with and supporting our partners in Guatemala and throughout Latin America,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “A strong trade relationship benefits both U.S. and Guatemalan dairy sectors, and it’s clear that imposing misguided trade barriers harms everyone, particularly Guatemalan consumers. We are excited to work together to continue to build a strong partnership between our two industries.”

“The U.S. and Guatemalan dairy sectors share values and common goals,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with ASODEL to champion effective, forward-thinking policies that will strengthen the dairy industry in the Americas and globally.”

“ASODEL is dedicated to improving the competitiveness and long-term viability of the Guatemala dairy industry,” said Ramiro Pérez, director general of ASODEL. “This collaboration with USDEC and NMPF strengthens our capacity to fulfill that mission, supporting not only our members but also Guatemalan consumers who rely on both domestic and imported dairy products.”

The agreement complements similar agreements USDEC and NMPF have made throughout Latin America, including with the Colombian Association of Dairy Industry (Asoleche), Sociedad Rural Argentina, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Chilean Federacion Nacional de Productores de Leche (Fedeleche).

Expanded resources benefit farmers

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

By Nicole Ayache, Chief Sustainability Officer, National Milk Producers Federation

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program launched FARM Environmental Stewardship (ES) Version 3 late last year, using the latest science and technology to support producers in assessing sustainability opportunities that align with their business goals. Since its launch, the FARM Program has developed additional training and guidance materials to help participants better understand FARM ES Version 3.

The Version 3 User Guide was released last month. It provides key information about the evaluation tool and details the data inputs of an evaluation to foster consistency and confidence in data collection. The guide dedicates a chapter to interpreting outputs from the Version 3 assessment to support accurate interpretations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions footprints.

FARM ES launched a self-paced, online evaluator training course that covers the core elements of an evaluation and is required for certification. Advanced training sessions are available for evaluators looking to deepen their expertise. Each session addresses key areas of the evaluation process, such as data inputs, interpreting results, and available resources. Sessions also explore the new scenario analysis function of the Version 3 evaluation tool, so evaluators can better support farmers in using this new functionality to inform decision-making.

The program area will also offer a Prep Guide, outlining steps producers can take to prepare for an on-farm evaluation. Both the recently published User Guide and the forthcoming Prep Guide share information on expectations and best practices for completing an evaluation.
FARM ES Version 3 enables robust scenario analysis so a farm can analyze the effects of potential management or practice changes, including the potential effect on milk productivity as well as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) model, which powers the Version 3 evaluation tool, incorporates cutting-edge research to model a whole-farm system. Through this process, FARM ES results can highlight potential opportunities for improved efficiency and cost savings.

FARM ES is working on expanded capabilities for the evaluation tool, such as making it easier to run what-if scenarios by offering preset options. FARM ES will also incorporate scientific updates from the RuFaS model over time. The economic module coming to RuFaS, for example, will offer FARM ES users the option to run a partial-budget analysis when reviewing scenario results.

The FARM Program continues its mission of fostering a culture of continuous improvement by providing farmers with tools and resources for on-farm best management practices. The FARM ES tool provides a unified platform built by and for the U.S. dairy community, powered by peer-reviewed credible science. U.S. dairy farmers are actively involved in shaping the FARM ES Program. It unifies industry response to customer requests for sustainability data, helping to streamline sustainability measurements into one program.

For more information on FARM Environmental Stewardship, please visit nationaldairyfarm.com.

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on March 17, 2025.

Lactose-Free Milk Makes Schoolkids Smile

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Jessica Shelly is the Director of Student Dining Services for Cincinnati Public Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. She’s responsible for overseeing the service of more than 60,000 meals a day in the lunchroom operations at 65 schools.

And in 2023, her school system tried something different: It offered its students lactose-free milk. The hugely successful pilot project has now been adopted district-wide, improving nutrition, boosting school lunch participation and reducing food waste. The Cincinnati model points to a promising path for milk in schools, as student bodies become more diverse and millions of children rely on school meals as their main nutrition source for the day.

“These are kids who may not be able to go home to a refrigerator full of food, and so it’s our job to make sure that we are providing them with the most healthy and nutritious meals possible when they’re here with us at school,” she said. “Part of that is making sure they have all the nutrients and protein they need, and we know that milk plays a large role in that.”

For more of the Dairy Defined podcast, you can find and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music under the podcast name “Dairy Defined.”

Dairy’s Future Depends on Trade, and the U.S. Can Deliver

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

A billion pounds of cheese can’t be wrong: Exports point to a bright future for U.S. dairy.

The statement is true, it’s simple, and it can be easy to get lost in the back-and-forth of trade disputes among the United States and its partners. Those headlines will remain with us, as trade policy inevitably becomes a part of discussions over national security and economic competition. What remains is the undeniably real growth of U.S. dairy exports, and their critical importance toward building a better future for our industry.

Back to that billion pounds. 2024 was a record for U.S. cheese shipments, by far. U.S. cheese exports rose 17% to 508,808 metric tons, topping 2022’s previous record by more than 75,000 metric tons. Cheese exports have never topped 500,000 metric tons, which translates to more than 1 billion pounds.

Butterfat volumes improved, as have dry whey, casein and fluid milk. And while challenges with China and its soft economy kept last year from topping 2022’s overall record, sales still rose to their second highest ever.

Trade agreements that the U.S. has negotiated over the past couple decades have played a major role in helping lay the groundwork for that growth and last year’s milestone cheese export record.

With more U.S. processing capacity online, our cheese exports are poised for even more global growth. We’re developing and expanding promising markets such as Indonesia while maintaining dominance in our backyard, even as competitors like New Zealand try to elbow their way in to offset China’s weak growth. Across dairy, these positive developments will continue to grow. From 5.2 percent of U.S. milk production in 2000 to 16.4% percent today, trade has become an increasingly important outlet for farmers’ milk. It creates a promising future — and at the same time, it means the future depends on it.

At the National Milk Producers Federation, working in partnership with the U.S. Dairy Export Council, our efforts to unlock new markets and create a positive policy environment are persistent.

  • In key foreign markets, U.S. dairy exporters are at a distinct disadvantage because of tariff cuts that the European Union or New Zealand have negotiated in their own trade agreements with those countries. We’re finally now able to take advantage of lower tariffs in many countries. including the 0% tariffs phased in under the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), signed back in 2004. But that only underscores how much work hasn’t been done and remains left to do.
  • Because the United States hasn’t kept pace on the trade agreements front, NMPF and USDEC have been pursuing unilateral tariff cuts with targeted trading partners. We’ve already seen successes with China on cheese, from Vietnam on various dairy products, and just last year from the United Kingdom on certain milk powder sales; we’re now actively working to chip tariffs down further with the United Kingdom, China and Taiwan. Two of my staff will head to Taiwan next month to advance that goal.
  • We’re also pushing against trade barriers that are arising as countries invent new policies that threaten to disrupt our dairy sales. We’ve devoted extensive efforts to beating back a politically motivated countervailing duty case in Colombia. And, we’re focused on ensuring that currently open markets stay that way, and pursuing ways to streamline and expand trade with partners such as Indonesia, Costa Rica and Canada. Our efforts are positioning us well to make headway with the new administration.
  • To advance beyond past trade agreements, we are always looking for opportunities to forge new deals that help exporters compete in targeted ways, much like how the U.S.-Japan agreement negotiated under the first Trump Administration boosted our cheese and whey exports. We’re also pushing for strong protections for our cheese exports using common names like “parmesan” and addressing the $2.7B dairy trade deficit we have with the EU.

We’re laying out all of these goals, and more, to the new administration to position them as key deliverables as USTR prepares to meet the White House’s April 1 deadline for submitting major trade plans.

These efforts will continue to build on the momentum we’ve created through decades of patient work, from USDEC’s on-the-ground efforts to our unparalleled global market intelligence to collaborative efforts such as the Cooperatives Working Together program, which is currently in the midst of a reinvention.

And one more thing about that billion pounds of cheese. There are more than eight billion people on this planet. We’ve only just begun.

Gregg Doud

President & CEO, NMPF