NMPF Executive Vice President, Policy Development & Strategy Jaime Castaneda shares with Dairy Radio Now listeners how NMPF has been working with the Trump administration on pressing trade issues and immigration, and how NMPF advocates for U.S. dairy.
Author: Rachel Ravencraft
NMPF Statement on the ‘Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy’
From NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud:
“The MAHA Commission’s Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy recognizes what the latest science indicates and what we’ve long been saying: that getting whole milk back into schools and boosting dairy in diets helps meet America’s nutritional needs, and that it is critical to improving the health of our nation’s children.
“We appreciate the commission’s attention to our nation’s public-health needs, and we are excited that scientific evidence showing the benefits of dairy at all fat levels is finally gaining appropriate recognition. We are hopeful that the upcoming Dietary Guidelines will also reflect the overwhelming evidence that NMPF has shared for years: dairy, including whole and reduced-fat, is an excellent source of nutrients in American diets. And we look forward to working with the administration on furthering the health of American children.
“To further assist in dairy’s positive contributions to a healthier nation, we also urge Congress to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would provide schools the opportunity to serve the nutritious whole and 2% milk that school kids love and codify into law the endorsement given in the administration’s report.”
AI’s Influence Requires Innovative Response
Just a couple years after its wide-scale introduction, Artificial Intelligence, aka AI, has already changed how people create, how they interact with the Internet, and how they interact with one another.
But it’s not without pitfalls: From “hallucinations” to hate speech, the quality of AI answers generated by Large Language Models can vary widely, often illustrating a principle that’s much older than the Internet: Garbage in, garbage out.
How does this affect dairy, where overwhelming mainstream support has been tempered by decades of negative misinformation, often peddled by plant-based imitators trying to make a quick buck by convincing people that their concoctions are superior to milk? Armed with an incognito browser window and an intern (thank you for your research, Presley Wirebaugh), we set out to find out what ChatGPT and other LLMs might say about milk. And what did we find?
In many ways, it wasn’t so bad. When it comes to dairy beverage labels, it turns out that ChatGPT’s “thoughts” aren’t that much different from recent heads of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration — it identifies the problem with nutritional confusion and calls for greater transparency. Answers note that milk is nutritionally superior to plant-based beverages, it understands that consumer confusion over the nutritional benefits of milk vs. plant-based is real, and it notes the value of improved, transparent consumer labeling.
Below is one question we asked. Note that we stooped to calling plant-based beverages a “milk,” as we were mimicking queries from less-informed consumers. Also note that the boldface type in the answers is from ChatGPT’s response:
Which is more nutritious: plant milk or cow milk?
Answer: Cow milk is generally more nutritious than most plant milks, particularly when it comes to natural protein content, calcium, and bioavailable vitamins and minerals.
Here’s another:
How should plant milks be labeled?
Answer: Plant milks should be labeled clearly and accurately so consumers understand what they are buying — especially because they are not nutritionally identical to cow’s milk.
One more:
What should I know about the nutrition of cow’s milk?
Answer: Here’s what you should know about the nutrition of cow’s milk — it’s a naturally nutrient-rich beverage, especially valuable for growth, bone health, and muscle maintenance.
Thank you, ChatGPT.
This good news comes with many caveats, often from what seems to be ChatGPT’s efforts to be even-handed to the point where “fair” actually takes a side. Along with the endorsement of milk’s nutritional value is discussion of how plant-based alternatives can also be healthy. The discussion of labeling stops far from fully endorsing the view that dairy terms should never be used on plant-based beverages. ChatGPT states that:
✅ Bottom Line: Plant-based products should be allowed to use dairy-like names if labels are transparent about their origin and nutrition. This ensures both clarity and choice for consumers.
That sounds a lot like the unworkable half-solution FDA suggested three years ago. Still, after decades of demonization, half-a-loaf is encouraging. And as we’ve always stated, once you’ve accepted the reality of nutritional confusion, the need for change becomes clear. It’s a matter of time, and persistence.
So dairy comes out OK on plant-based labeling. In other areas, the limitations of the models, and the power of anti-dairy propaganda, becomes clear. Here’s an example:
What do people like more — plant milk or dairy?
Answer: Among Gen Z and Millennials, plant milk is often preferred, especially oat and almond milk.
“Often preferred” is a pretty big stretch, given that overall market share of plant-based beverages is under 10% and has been falling for years. Are the AI models scooping up old data? Breathless press releases from struggling plant-based companies? More research required.
Even more challenging is what the answers say about dairy’s sustainability.
Which is better for the environment: plant milk or cow milk?
Answer: Plant milk is significantly better for the environment than cow’s milk — across the board in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and land use.
Ouch.
So — getting out the message of dairy farming’s value as part of regenerative agricultural systems, showing dairy’s progress toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, optimizing water use, encouraging efficient land use … you know, all the things that go into the FARM Program — plays into winning the battle of a ChatGPT query.
It’s a good story to tell. After all:
- The U.S. dairy industry was the first in the food agriculture sector to conduct a full Life Cycle Assessment at a national scale, in 2008.
- According to an assessment released in May, from 2007 to 2020, the greenhouse gas footprint of farmgate milk production decreased by 13%. And …
- U.S. dairy has set a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 through developing well-targeted incentives that encourage climate-friendly investments among dairy farmers across all sizes and regions. This comes on top of dairy’s record of animal stewardship and top-level workforce management.
Each individual search, multiplied by thousands per day, every day, adds up to the realities we will increasingly inhabit. And that becomes the new frontier for defining dairy.
This isn’t the AI moment — it’s the AI reality. And just as when the industry has faced past challenges, and just as dairy farmers do every day, innovation will be a must.
FMMO Modernization Takes Effect, With NEXT Next
- Final Rule updating Federal Milk Marketing Order pricing formulas implemented June 1
- NMPF Exports & Trade (NEXT) gained approval from NMPF’s Board of Directors and started accepting bids
NMPF’s Economics team saw the culmination of a multi-year effort to update the Federal Milk Marketing Order pricing formulas on June 1, when the new FMMO rule took effect.
The “higher-of” Class I price mover for most non-ESL milk has been restored; dairy product make allowances and Class I differentials nationwide are updated, and USDA is no longer using barrel cheese to determine the Class III price. USDA will implement a final part of the rule increasing the component composition factors for skim milk in all FMMO price classes Dec. 1 to avoid disrupting existing risk management positions.
NMPF successfully argued for these necessary updates in five specific proposals presented at a record-long FMMO hearing from late summer 2023 to early winter 2024. The arguments all flowed from the fundamental principle that FMMO product price formulas must evolve with the changing structure of the dairy industry to properly fulfill their role of accurately translating dairy product prices into milk values embodied in the orders’ classified prices. The rule comes after more than four years of effort that included more than 200 meetings to formulate and defend NMPF’s proposal, led by NMPF leaders and experts.
Also spearheaded by economic analysis and consultations, NMPF’s Board of Directors approved the NMPF Exports & Trade (NEXT) program to succeed the Cooperatives Working Together export assistance program, at its June board meeting, with bids beginning in July.
NEXT expands its service to dairy producers and to testing innovative new ways to expand U.S. dairy’s market share. NEXT provides an effective means to move domestic dairy products to overseas markets by helping to overcome U.S. dairy’s trade disadvantages. New initiatives in the new NEXT program include:
- Expanding the program’s product mix
- Creating market development initiatives that provide targeted, additional support beyond primary assistance to level the playing field and drive U.S. export volume growth in key markets around the world where the U.S. is at a tariff
disadvantage and/or where the U.S. has the room and ability to gain market share - Enhancing program operations to assist in NEXT’s mission by extending delivery periods, removing volume limits and providing greater insight into program operations; and
- Creating a strategic advisory council to guide program strategy.
NEXT charges cooperatives paying into the new program two cents/cwt of member milk, a reduction from the four cents/cwt previous assessment in the CWT program. Within the first month of the program, NEXT-assisted export sales boomed, reaching nearly 38 million pounds of product – a tremendous start for the new program.
How to Read This Newsletter
August is when Washington heads out of town, with members of Congress spending the month in their districts and government officials on vacation. There’s still plenty to do — in August NMPF filed comments, surveyed farmers, supported dairy exports and encouraged dairy-related research, among other things — but August also is a month to take stock on what’s been achieved and plan next steps.
The pause also provides an opportunity to sum up some of what we have done on behalf of our members this year so far. This edition of News for Dairy Cooperatives offers a detailed recap of what we’ve been doing to serve our members and advance this industry this year. Thank you for this opportunity to serve.
Outreach Generates New Members, Active Young Cooperators
- Webinars range from MAHA to immigration
- Lanco-Pennland is newest NMPF member cooperative
- Hood, Deere, Idaho Milk Products new associate members
NMPF communications and membership outreach has helped expand the organization’s reach and coverage this year, with new members and additional relevance to the expanding dairy community.
The challenges of Washington’s dramatic policy shifts have reverberated nationwide, as dairy farmers grappling with new approaches to immigration enforcement and a re-examination of federal food policy.
NMPF so far this year has hosted seven webinars covering issues including immigration compliance, the implications of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, dairy economics and international dairy trade. By strengthening its educational offerings, NMPF continues to equip its members with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate today’s policy landscape and sustain a competitive edge in the marketplace.
NMPF also renewed its commitment to serving the next generation of dairy-farmer leadership through its National Young Cooperators (YC) program, hosting its annual Dairy Policy and Legislative Forum in June. The annual two-day event brought together young dairy leaders from 15 states for two days of education and advocacy on Capitol Hill, discussing key dairy priorities directly with members of Congress and staffs to advocate for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, agricultural labor reform and strong dairy trade policies.
NMPF to date in 2025 has welcomed four new members, reflecting the vitality and evolution of U.S. dairy. Lanco Pennland is NMPF’s newest cooperative member, representing 300 farms in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Virginia. The co-op owns a plant in Hancock, MD, producing Havarti, cotija, asiago, and other cheeses under the brand Pennland Pure.
HP Hood, John Deere and Idaho Milk Products have also joined NMPF as associate members.
- HP Hood is one of the largest dairy processors, in the United States with 12 manufacturing plants and the number one dairy brand in New England, where the company was founded in 1846. The company’s brands and products include Hood, Heluva Good! and LACTAID® brand dairy products.
- John Deere, an equipment manufacturer headquartered in Moline, IL, is known for its green and yellow tractors, combines and backhoes, helping to produce food, fiber and fuel since 1837.
- Idaho Milk Products is a dairy processor based in Jerome, ID which started in 2009. With one operational plant and another on the way, the company focuses on milk protein concentrate and isolate, milk permeate and cream.
By joining NMPF, these companies are demonstrating their dedication to collaborative advocacy and shared industry goals, ensuring that the voice of dairy farmers remains strong on the national stage.
NMPF Leads Charge in Dynamic Trade Environment
- Advocated for dairy priorities in administration’s Reciprocal Trade Deals
- Secured the reintroduction and advancement of key common names bill
- Spurred federal investigation into global nonfat milk solids marketplace
- Expanded network of allied organizations
- Advanced key supply chain initiatives
NMPF has actively navigated the new administration’s proactive and unconventional trade approach to forge better global prospects for U.S. dairy exporters.
As the Trump administration’s trade negotiations unfold, NMPF Executive Vice Presidents Jaime Castaneda and Shawna Morris are serving as confidential private sector advisers to the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Department of Agriculture, offering guidance to ensure that U.S. dairy interests are represented and pursued across the globe.
To date, the United States announced trade frameworks with key dairy trading partners including South Korea, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. These frameworks vary in scope and detail and are designed to set the stage for more detailed negotiations to follow soon.
The frameworks with Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are particularly promising for dairy exporters. It appears likely that all three countries will zero out tariffs on U.S. dairy exports, leveling the playing field with New Zealand and Australia, and in some cases the European Union too. Indonesia’s framework also addresses longstanding barriers that have made it difficult for American companies to compete in the market. This includes dairy facility registration approval improvements and steps that would help protect common name rights in Indonesia for products like “parmesan” and “feta.” Details on all announced trade details are forthcoming.
In addition to providing guidance as cleared advisors, NMPF worked hard in the months leading up to the negotiations to lay the groundwork for success. As the administration began to fill out its cabinet and agency positions, NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) shared trade priorities with incoming USTR and USDA officials to improve the global competitive landscape for U.S. dairy exporters. NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud testified before the House Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee, where he called for the U.S. government to pursue greater market access for U.S. products and enforce existing trade agreements.
Throughout its meetings and engagements with the Trump Administration, NMPF has stressed the need to preserve trade flows, while encouraging a tailored approach to tariffs that ensure fairness for U.S. farmers and workers.
NMPF remained active in multiple trade-related areas that went beyond negotiations, for example supporting the Apr. 1 reintroduction of the Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields (SAFETY) Act and continuing additional efforts to proactively protect common food names for American cheesemakers. Originally introduced as the Safeguarding American Value-Added Exports (SAVE) Act in 2023, the SAFETY Act would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Trade Representative to prioritize the protection of common names like “parmesan” in international trade negotiations.
As Congress and the administration prepare for next year’s critical U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review process, NMPF is engaging with and supporting the U.S. Trade Representative’s office and other key stakeholders to ensure that they have the information needed to strengthen the agreement for U.S. dairy producers and exporters.
A particular issue that needs addressing is Canada’s dairy policies that incentivize dairy protein to be produced, then offloaded globally at artificially low prices — including by shifting tariff codes to evade USMCA export surcharges.
NMPF responded to this issue by pressuring the administration to address Canada’s persistent flouting of USMCA commitments, which led to a U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) investigation launched May 20 into the export competitiveness of nonfat milk solids industries in the United States and other major suppliers. NMPF submitted written comments as part of that investigation outlining underhanded practices by Canada and other global suppliers that harm U.S. producers. NMPF’s Jaime Castaneda and Will Loux further elaborated on those points at a July 28 USITC hearing in the case.
NMPF has expanded its network of international allies, strengthening its ability to advocate for U.S. dairy worldwide. During a March 17-20 trip to Central America, Castaneda closed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between NMPF, USDEC, and the Guatemalan Dairy Development Association (ASODEL). The agreement strengthens ties between the U.S. and Guatemalan dairy industries as they advocate for free and fair-trade policies and promote greater dairy consumption.
NMPF and USDEC signed an MOU May 1 with KADIN, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce, strengthening ties between the U.S. and Indonesian dairy industries. This agreement builds on a flourishing partnership between the two countries, launched by the establishment of the U.S.-Indonesia Dairy Partnership Program. This collaboration is focused on creating and distributing technical educational materials designed to empower small-scale dairy producers in Indonesia to improve the quality and quantity of their milk production while touting the value of complementary U.S. dairy imports to meet the full needs of Indonesia’s expanding school milk program.
To ensure that U.S. dairy exporters can depend on timely and reliable shipping and rail transportation, NMPF is prioritizing supply chain improvements.
USTR on Feb. 21 proposed to impose fees on Chinese-built and -operated cargo ships as part of a larger investigation into Chinese maritime dominance. While this action was well-intentioned, NMPF and USDEC filed comments on March 24 to warn the agency that additional service fees would significantly increase costs for American exporters and diminish shipping options for U.S. products — both of which could lead to loss of global market access. USTR heard the industry pushback and modified the rule on June 12 rolled back the severity of the proposed fees. NMPF continues to urge the agency to re-evaluate the remaining fees to ensure U.S. dairy exporters do not face additional costs to export.
‘Beautiful’ Bill Wins Mark Dairy Legislative Progress
- Obtained long-term dairy safety net and conservation funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
- Won funding and authorization for mandatory dairy processing cost surveys
- Advocated successfully for permanent Section 199A tax deduction for farmers and cooperatives
- Elevated dairy’s unique ag labor needs amidst political uncertainty
NMPF worked tirelessly this year to secure success for dairy farmers and their cooperatives in the 2025 budget reconciliation package, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The package’s enactment into law by President Trump on July 4 also included the first new farm bill spending since 2018. The dairy industry welcomed provisions within the legislation that provide certainty to producers and their cooperatives.
New investments include a reauthorized Dairy Margin Coverage program through 2031 that updates the program’s production history calculation. NMPF also lauded dedicated funding for USDA to conduct mandatory processing plant cost surveys every two years and report the results to dairy stakeholders, a key part of its Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization planning that required congressional action outside USDA’s new order implemented in June. These cost studies will inform future milk pricing conversations by giving all stakeholders uniform, transparent pricing information.
The congressional spending legislation also reinvested the remaining Inflation Reduction Act conservation dollars into the Farm Bill baseline, an NMPF-backed policy that will make more funds available for dairy farmers and their cooperatives to use conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. NMPF celebrated an adjusted gross income (AGI) waiver that allows producers whose AGI is over $900,000 to use conservation programs as long as 75% or more of their income comes from farming, ranching, or forestry-related activities. Finally, the package included new trade promotion funding based on current programs that return well over $20 in export revenue for every dollar invested in the programs.
NMPF also succeeded in making the Section 199A tax deduction permanent, enabling dairy farmer-owned cooperatives to continue either passing the deduction back to their farmer owners or reinvesting it in their cooperatives. A permanent Section 199A helps farmer cooperatives stay competitive in today’s marketplace.
Beyond the tax and spending law, work continues toward another longtime priority: ag labor reform that gives dairy farmers access to the H-2A visa program and provides stability for current dairy farm workers and their families.
This year, the Trump Administration has prioritized immigration enforcement while key officials, including President Trump himself as well as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, have stated the need to address agriculture’s workforce needs. NMPF has met with key individuals at the White House, USDA, and the Department of Labor to highlight the dire workforce uncertainty facing America’s dairies and responding to Beltway misconceptions about farm labor. Paired with dozens of meetings with members of Congress, NMPF continues to build momentum to bring relief to farmers on ag labor as soon as possible.
Many members of Congress have advanced NMPF’s message on ag labor. Members of both parties signaled their desire to work with the Trump Administration on this topic at a House Agriculture Committee hearing with Secretary Rollins in June. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. GT Thompson, R-PA, made a compelling case regarding the importance of current farm workers. Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-SD, carried a message directly from NMPF’s June Board Meeting and emphasized dairy farmers’ anxieties surrounding the current workforce situation.
NMPF will continue to push for progress on ag labor and other priorities in the 119th Congress for the betterment and prosperity of dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own.
NMPF’s August Sees Flurry of Comments, Initiatives
NMPF spent the traditional August lull in Washington policymaking actively pushing its members’ priorities, submitting regulatory comments to federal agencies.
NMPF stood with other major agricultural organizations in joint comments submitted Aug. 13 against a draft risk assessment in which EPA models human exposure to the “forever chemicals” PFOA or PFOS from the application of sewage sludge, or biosolids, to farmland. The organizations asserted that EPA’s models operate on extreme assumptions that don’t account for the reality of agriculture, despite the agency’s best intentions.
NMPF also continued its decades-long fight against improper and ineffective air emissions modeling through comments Aug. 18 to the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study Group in response to draft revised emission models for animal feeding operations released by EPA late last fall.
After significant analysis, NMPF concluded that the current draft EPA dairy Air Emissions Estimating Methodologies (EEMs) are not appropriate for predicting dairy farm emissions. NMPF described the specific modeling flaws in its comments to support its argument that EPA should permanently cease its efforts in this area.
August also was highlighted by more activity from NEXT (NMPF Export and Trade), the revamped, cooperative-led export assistance program. NEXT member cooperatives secured 37 contracts in August, adding 8.6 million pounds of product in NEXT-assisted sales in 2025. These products will go to customers in Asia, Oceania, Middle East-North Africa, Central America, the Caribbean and South America and will be shipped through December.
NMPF also opened its fundraising raffle for its annual scholarship awards. The raffle runs through this year’s Joint Annual Meeting and concludes on Nov. 12 when winners will be announced.
Prizes this year include a $100 Airbnb gift card, a Cabot Creamery Fan Favorite gift box and more. The raffle can be accessed here. Back by popular demand, the scholarship committee will also be hosting a combination silent and live auction during the Cheese Reception on Nov. 11.
The NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program supports master’s and Ph.D. students conducting vital research for the future of the industry. The program is largely funded through raffles and auctions. Donations are also welcome. These events are critical to ensuring the opportunity to support the next generation of dairy enthusiasts.
NMPF’s Joint Annual Meeting on Nov. 10-12, held with the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) and the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA), is open for registration. More information and registration is available here.
Meanwhile, the FARM team is beginning to develop its Version 2028 of its Animal Care program, conducting a stakeholder survey through Sept. 5 collecting input from dairy farmers, industry stakeholders and partners about topics, issues and potential changes. The survey results will inform a final report available on the FARM website early next year.
Finally, according to August USDA data, the July margin under the Dairy Margin Coverage program dropped to $10.94/cwt, as the DMC feed cost formula decreased by $0.34/cwt, and the all-milk price fell by $0.50/cwt to $20.80/cwt. The July DMC feed cost dropped on lower corn and soybean meal prices, while the premium alfalfa price changed little from June.
FARM Program Strengthens Farmer Input
- Updated governance structure to enhance farmer input
- Developed training and resource materials to support farmers
- Released the Animal Care Version 2028 Stakeholder Survey
The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program has spent the year so far reinforcing farmer voices through improved governance, engaging across dairy to shape FARM’s future.
FARM kicked off the year by welcoming Meggan Hain, DVM, as Chief Veterinary Officer. The new position leads NMPF’s efforts to advance animal welfare standards, support dairy producers and promote science-based best practices industrywide. Hain adds robust veterinary perspective to the team.
FARM held a two-day in-person training in May to teach evaluators how to help farmers develop an enhanced biosecurity plan, with the lessons of the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak still fresh.
This training was supported by a cooperative agreement with USDA National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Plan (NADPRP). The agreement supports expanding the resources available through the FARM Biosecurity program, such as additions to the current online biosecurity training module, which helps teaches the basics of developing an enhanced biosecurity plan, and a second in-person training in Washington this October.
FARM Environmental Stewardship also released new training and resources to aid in implementing FARM ES Version 3. FARM ES created the Version 3 User Guide and Prep Guide to prepare farmers for on-farm evaluations.
FARM in March opened nominations for its Animal Care, Environmental Stewardship and Workforce Development Task Forces, receiving more than 60 total nominations across the three. After review from the FARM Farmer Advisory Council and NMPF Executive Committee, NMPF’s Board of Directors voted in the proposed slate on June 9, with 13 newly seated members. FARM proposed revisions to existing governance to better represent farmer voices during NMPF’s June Board of Directors meeting. The Board voted to restructure current Animal Care reviews, as NMPF’s Animal Health & Wellbeing Committee sets priorities for the FARM Animal Care Task Force and FARM Farmer Advisory Council ahead of the initial review.
FARM has taken the same nomination approach for its FARM Farmer Advisory Council, trying to create a collective, diverse group of farmer representatives. The council provides knowledge and input on farming practices and touts the FARM Program to its fellow producers and assures that farmer insights inform FARM workstreams. Nominations are open via the online form through Sept. 15.
NMPF Helps Break Regulatory Logjams
- Amplified whole milk’s importance in student meals
- Stood against unrealistic EPA regulations
- Shepherded change at the 39th NCIMS
- Fostered H5N1 and New World Screwworm collaboration.
The Regulatory Affairs team has made significant headway this year on longstanding key issues as Washington policymakers take a fresh look at topics that have languished in some cases for decades.
Whole milk is poised to return to school menus after nearly a decade of NMPF effort.
The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, sponsored by Reps. GT Thompson, R-PA, and Kim Schrier, D-WA, and Sens. Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Peter Welch, D-VT, has been a top NMPF priority for more than half a decade. Thanks to NMPF’s constant amplification of the latest nutrition science and the benefits of whole milk, the legislation has come farther this year than ever before, passing the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry via voice vote. With multiple avenues available for full congressional approval this year, NMPF continues its advocacy for the legislation, which will return to schools the authority to offer whole and 2% milk in federally funded school meals.
In a win for agriculture, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Aug. 7 upheld a 2019 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule that exempted air emissions from animal waste at farms from select reporting requirements subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, or EPCRA. EPCRA reporting requirements are tied closely to the reporting requirements for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, which is commonly known as the Superfund statute. Both CERCLA and EPCRA include reporting requirements for releases of hazardous substances to the environment that NMPF has successfully contested for years.
For the second time on the same rule, NMPF filed comments July 11 to the Department of Health and Human Services opposing FDA’s proposed Front-of-Pack labeling rule as well as two proposed plant-based labeling guidance documents. These comments responded to a request for information as part of HHS’ deregulatory initiative begun by a Trump Administration executive order, and echo comments NMPF submitted directly to FDA in January about the proposed rules and guidance.
In its comments to HHS, NMPF states that FDA’s Front-of-Pack nutrition labeling scheme is a highly flawed, unlawful approach to educating consumers about food nutritional profiles. Because the front-of-pack label would only list saturated fat, sodium and added sugar, consumers will get an incomplete picture of that food’s nutritional profile. In its separate comments to HHS on plant-based guidance, NMPF pointed to ample evidence that mislabeling has led to confusion among consumers regarding the nutritional deficiencies of plant-based alternatives and that there are negative human health consequences as result of that confusion. NMPF helped deliver favorable outcomes for nine proposals it submitted on behalf of its members, including a standard for bulk-tank cleaning that’s better aligned with milk-truck standards, at the 39th National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments, which met April 11-16 in Minneapolis. The conference tackled important issues facing FDA’s National Grade “A” Milk Program, the Grade “A” Milk Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) and related documents.
Support for eliminating H5N1 in dairy herds and rapidly developing an approved H5N1 vaccine for dairy cattle has continued this year. NMPF created an H5N1 Vaccine Working Group to help inform about potential H5N1 vaccination strategies for dairy cattle which may include target populations, vaccination protocols, surveillance frameworks, and communication needs for stakeholders. NMPF has also worked closely with USDA and FDA to monitor and prepare for a potential New World Screwworm infestation. A fact sheet for farmers to know what to look for in their herds and what to do if they suspect a case of NWS on their farm is available online, and NMPF will update members as new information emerges.
Dairy is Meeting the MAHA Moment
Few topics have gained as much discussion in agriculture in the second Trump administration as the Make America Healthy Again initiative, which this month sent its report on food and agriculture to the president. MAHA is many things, and for dairy it offers opportunities for policies that better align with what nutrition scientists and families already know — that dairy boosts public health and its consumption should be encouraged. But it could also be a double-edged sword for both farmers and consumers — which is why, as MAHA evolves, dairy needs to be ready to support good ideas and educate both policymakers and consumers in ways that benefit everyone it serves.
First: A little bit of a shakeup isn’t a bad thing. Dairy’s been in several decades-long battles that at this point can’t be explained by anything other than bureaucratic inertia. Some examples: Science supports the benefits of dairy at all fat levels, so why not whole milk in schools? Consumer transparency demands that plant-based beverages stop misleadingly using dairy terms to imply nutritional values they don’t have, so why can’t FDA enforce its own Standard of Identity for milk?
MAHA’s energy can break through some of these generations-old policy logjams. It also provides some tangible benefits to dairy consumers and the industry, such as:
- Potential increased demand for whole-food dairy: MAHA’s emphasis on nutrient-dense “real” foods, including whole milk, could further raise demand for traditional dairy products. Fluid milk, yogurts, and butter are viewed as less processed than their alternatives. Those products are gaining market share — just look at cottage cheese and yogurt in the snack category. MAHA is part of this trend toward consumers shifting away from additive-laden options toward time-tested nutrition.
- An even greater competitive edge against plant-based alternatives: Many plant-based alternatives rely heavily on synthetic ingredients, making them suspicious to the often-discussed “MAHA moms” who prefer a diet for their children that’s less dependent on products whose labels read like science projects. We’ve been talking about this for years, and the preference for so-called clean labels is yet another competitive advantage for dairy, which already wins on nutrition, cost and taste.
- A focus on nutritional benefits: Speaking of nutrition — the MAHA conversation provides an opportunity to highlight the essential nutrients present in dairy products, including calcium, vitamins, and bioactive fatty acids. Dairy can be front-and-center in a healthy diet. We can lead the conversation.
MAHA cuts through many of the weeds that have grown up around food policy. At the same time, cutting through bureaucratic weeds shouldn’t hamstring farmer efforts to control actual weeds — you know, the ones that require herbicides. And that’s where the double-edged sword comes in.
- Education about innovation: As the MAHA discussion continues, agriculture and dairy will need to be very clear in communicating the value modern agriculture provides to U.S. and global consumers. Technology and innovation has made America the world’s agricultural leader — and giving up on any of it without a thorough conversation and understanding the implications of any actions is essential. The administration has pledged to listen to farmers — let’s take them up on that. It’s a conversation to welcome, not to worry about, because agriculture and dairy have a great story to tell.
- Continued commitment to food safety: The same is true for food safety, in which, again, America is the world’s leader. The impulse to help the small farmer who sells products locally, perhaps even directly, has long been a feature of agricultural policy in both parties. But any moves that create a two-tiered food-safety system will backfire against everyone. It will limit markets for small producers and create massive headaches in trade negotiations, just when agriculture badly needs better deals.
And a final thing to remember:
- Dairy as an industry doesn’t need to rely on any single policy movement to thrive. Every opportunity MAHA creates for dairy unfortunately will have knee-jerk detractors who will question the administration’s motives, its science, and the legitimacy of its actions, often to score cheap political points at the expense of consumers. It’s just the moment we’re living in. But dairy’s current $10 billion investment opportunity isn’t being driven by Washington headlines. It’s driven by American and global consumers who recognize how dairy helps them, regardless of their ideological orientation. Milk isn’t Democratic or Republican — it’s universal, as household data shows. That’s something to prize in 2025. It should stay that way.
Dairy will do well in any marketplace that’s based on facts, transparency and quality. From the smallest Amish dairies to complex family businesses with thousands of cows — all of which are necessary to make sure that demand is met and preferences are served — the commitment to providing a product that genuinely serves the public is palpable.
MAHA may help create promising opportunities for dairy. It’s one part of an exciting time for the industry. Proactively engaging with policy shifts, embracing positive changes and staying alert for new challenges will be crucial for the dairy industry to thrive in this evolving landscape. We’re ready to do so.
Gregg Doud
President & CEO, NMPF
