Author: Rachel Ravencraft

October NEXT-Assisted Export Sales Surpass 19.5 Million Pounds

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NEXT member cooperatives secured 59 contracts in October, adding 19.5 million pounds of product in NEXT-assisted sales in 2026. These products will go to customers in Asia, North America, Middle East-North Africa, Oceania, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Central America and will be shipped from October 2026 through June 2027.

Exporting dairy products is critical to the viability of dairy farmers and their cooperatives across the country. Whether or not a cooperative is actively engaged in exporting, moving products into world markets is essential. NEXT provides a means to move domestic dairy products to overseas markets by helping to overcome U.S. dairy’s trade disadvantages.

The referenced amounts of dairy products reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. NEXT will pay export assistance to bidders only when export and delivery of product is verified by submission of required documentation.

 

NMPF Maps Dairy Trade Barriers Around the Globe

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF and USDEC submitted comments on Oct. 29 for USTR’s annual National Trade Estimate Report. The comments detail the top barriers facing U.S. dairy exports in 32 markets, from Canada and the European Union to Indonesia and Vietnam. The National Trade Estimate report is a compendium of trade barriers that the U.S. government has historically used to inform trade negotiations, including priority trade barriers in the ongoing reciprocal trade negotiations. Recurring issues included in the comments are European Union’s push to misuse geographical indications to monopolize terms like “parmesan” and “asiago,” onerous red tape such as Indonesia’s plant facility listing requirements and other import certification issues that serve as an impediment to dairy exports around the world.

NMPF also urged swift implementation of the Agreements on Reciprocal Trade, which would eliminate many of the nontariff barriers holding back dairy exports. Many of the deals include NMPF priorities included in prior years’ comments, including elimination or reduction of high tariffs on U.S. dairy, streamlining import certification processes, protects common cheese names and preempts future barriers to trade. With U.S. dairy exports reaching a record $9.6 billion in 2025, NMPF will keep pressing to clear these barriers so farmers can capture more of that global demand.

NMPF Advocacy Helps Secure RUTF Funding in USDA International Food Aid

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

USDA announced on Oct. 8 that $77 million in international food aid funding would be granted to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) and related products to treat malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. RUTF is a paste made with U.S. milk powders used to treat children with severe acute malnutrition and wasting worldwide.

The funding follows ongoing NMPF and USDEC advocacy to keep RUTF a priority in U.S. food aid packages. NMPF and USDEC secured language in the House Farm Bill passed earlier this year that would provide explicit funding for RUTF, worked the appropriations process on Capitol Hill and stayed in regular contact with USDA to ensure continued funding for existing programming as the Food for Peace program transfers from the State Department to USDA.

NMPF Heads Off Halal Trade Barrier in Indonesia

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Indonesia revoked its Halal pre-shipment inspection requirement and delayed its Halal supply chain mandate by two years on Oct. 16, just days before both measures were set to take effect, following a coordinated effort led by NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council to head off new trade barriers. NMPF and USDEC collaborated with a coalition of international dairy organizations and worked closely with USTR and USDA to oppose the measures, which would have required an unworkable conformity inspection of every shipment in the country of origin and extended Halal requirements to every link in the supply chain, from cold storage to ocean carriers. U.S. exporters shipped over $220 million in dairy products to Indonesia last year, all of which would have fallen under the expanded requirements.

The win builds on NMPF and USDEC’s work to secure important dairy market access in Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country. That includes Agreement on Reciprocal Trade commitments on zero tariffs and assurances on nontariff issues such as import licensing and Indonesia’s onerous dairy processing facility registration. NMPF will use the two-year window to push for a permanent fix based on Indonesia’s existing Halal certification system.

Annual Meeting Recap

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Young Cooperators Sharpen Leadership Skills

The National Young Cooperators Program was front and center at the 2026 Joint Annual Meeting in Kissimmee, FL, where 75 young dairy farmers and co-op coordinators took part in two days of intensive leadership training. Since 1950, the program has helped young dairy farmers build the knowledge, skills and connections they need to lead in their cooperatives, their communities and the broader dairy industry.

Sponsored by Farm Credit, Ever.Ag, fairlife and Monument Advocacy, this year’s program centered on the challenges young farmers face both in the boardroom and at home. Participants explored what it takes to keep co-ops strong for the future, from weighing long-term investment against near-term returns to members to defining success for co-op management. Conversations also turned to the farm family, with candid discussion of the stress dairy farmers carry and how to manage it, and practical guidance on starting succession planning and bridging gaps between generations. Between sessions, attendees got a taste of dairy in the Sunshine State and time to build relationships with peers from across the country.

 

High Desert Milk, Inc. joins NMPF

High Desert Milk, Inc. is NMPF’s newest cooperative member. The Idaho-based cooperative was founded in 2001 and processes 4.5 million pounds of milk a day into butter, cream cheese, nonfat dry milk, skim milk powder, buttermilk powder and milk protein concentrate. NMPF represents 24 member cooperatives and 2/3 of the U.S. milk supply, ensuring dairy farmers have a seat at the table during discussions about critical industry topics including milk pricing, animal welfare, foreign market access and development, climate policy and more.

 

RK Partners and Commodity & Ingredient Hedging, LLC join NMPF as associate members

NMPF welcomes RK Partners and Commodity & Ingredient Hedging, LLC (CIH) as its newest associate members.

RK Partners specializes exclusively in the R&D Tax Credit and has generated over $50 million for dairy farms across the United States. Many dairies and cooperatives already do qualifying work without realizing it, from feed and ration trials, genetics and herd health programs to new technology and sustainability projects. RK Partners handles the full technical study, works alongside each operation’s CPA and includes audit defense as standard, turning on-farm innovation into cash to offset tight margins and fund growth.

To find out if your operation qualifies, contact Louie Pitman at 646-371-4124, lpitman@rk.partners.

CIH combines deep dairy market experience with cutting-edge technology to offer an unmatched margin management solution.

Whether you’re a dairy producer, large cooperative, or commercial processor, we can help you protect your profitability through:

  • Personalized one-on-one consulting
  • Seamless integration of DRP, LRP, LGM, futures, options, and feed protection
  • Easy-to-use margin and exposure tracking software
  • Data-driven strategy refinement as the markets evolves

To learn more about NMPF associate membership and for a full list of associate members, click here.

 

NMPF Delegates Elect 2027 Board of Directors

The NMPF delegate body voted on the organization’s 2027 Board of Directors, including the Executive Committee and Officers at the annual meeting.

New board members approved by the NMPF delegates include:

  • Kevin Stockwell, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
  • Derik Robinson, High Desert Milk, Inc.
  • Josh Zonneveld, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
  • Kevin Satterwhite, Maola Local Dairies
  • David Silva, Northwest Dairy Association
  • Jim Boyle, United Dairymen of Arizona

NMPF’s Officers and Executive Committee will consist of:

  • Chairman Brian Rexing, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
  • 1st Vice Chairman Cricket Jacquier, Agri-Mark, Inc.
  • 2nd Vice Chairman Simon Vander Woude, California Dairies, Inc.
  • Secretary Craig Caballero, United Dairymen of Arizona
  • Treasurer Pete Kappelman, Land O’Lakes, Inc.
  • Sheryl Meshke, Associated Milk Producers Inc.
  • Rob Vandenheuvel, California Dairies, Inc.
  • Dennis Rodenbaugh, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
  • Randy Mooney, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc.
  • Joel Eigenbrood, Foremost Farms USA
  • Brian Hemann, Lone Star Milk Producers
  • Kevin Satterwhite, Maola Local Dairies
  • Doug Chapin, Michigan Milk Producers Association
  • Frank Doll, Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc.
  • Jacob Larson, Southeast Milk, Inc.

 

Lanco Pennland Wins Top Prize at NMPF Dairy Product Contest

A Reserve Extreme Irish Cheddar from Lanco Pennland took the top prize in NMPF’s annual dairy product competition. Land O’Lakes, Inc. and California Dairies, Inc. received Reserve Chairman’s award recognitions for their Sharp Cheddar and Danish 85% Salted butter. The winners were celebrated Oct. 20 at the Joint Annual Meeting cheese reception, where more than 700 attendees sampled the winning products.

 

DFA, Maola’s Smith Take Top Honors in NMPF Annual Communications Contest

NMPF named Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) the Cooperative Communicator of the Year in its annual communications contest. DFA won eight categories and a ‘Best of Show’ award in the Writing category. The cooperative also earned four second place and two third place finishes.

Ben Smith, a Maola Local Dairies farmer-member, was named NMPF’s Farmer Communicator of the Year.

Winners were recognized Oct. 20 during the awards luncheon during annual meeting.

 

National Dairy FARM Program Announces 2026 Excellence Awards Winners

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program announced the 2026 Excellence Awards winners, whose dedication and everyday pursuit of excellence strengthen the U.S. dairy industry as a whole.

The 2026 FARM Excellence Award recipients are:

  • Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship — Ideal Dairy Farms (Dairy Farmers of America)
  • Environmental Stewardship – Paloma Dairy (United Dairymen of Arizona)
  • Workforce Development — Silverstreak Dairies LLP (Land O’Lakes, Inc.)
  • Evaluator of the Year — Dr. Kandice Runyon (United Dairymen of Arizona)

Taking Stock and Gearing Up for What’s Ahead

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Editor’s Note: This column is adapted from remarks given Oct. 20 at NMPF’s annual meeting.

 

Over the past year, the dairy industry has faced a wave of challenges from Washington, state capitals, and markets around the world. Last month at our annual meeting in Kissimmee, FL, I talked about some of the big wins NMPF has shepherded for dairy in 2026, and I shared a few of my thoughts on what’s to come.

The theme of the annual meeting this year was “Committed. Resilient. Ready.” and I think that really sums this industry up beautifully. To be totally honest, it’s been a pretty darn stressful year in Washington. But time and time again, this industry has shown up and proven its commitment, its resilience, and its readiness for whatever comes next.

Right now, we’re advocating on dairy’s behalf on a number of key topics including labor, the farm bill, nutrition and trade.

The last time we talked about meaningful agricultural labor reform and actually accomplished it in the United States was in 1986, 40 years ago. Spend five minutes with any dairy farmer in this country, and you’ll hear why reform is long overdue. As we’ve said for years, dairy does not have a seasonal labor problem; we have a year-round workforce problem. Our farms operate 365 days a year, yet we have never had a visa program built for their needs. Over the past year, however, that message has gained traction in the halls of Congress and with the administration. We’ve worked with Chairman GT Thompson and the House Ag Committee. His bill, the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, is one of the strongest we’ve seen on this issue and marks a major step forward. Together, these efforts have helped shift the conversation in Washington: more offices on Capitol Hill than ever before understand that dairy farmers need a year-round workforce, not just seasonal labor. That growing understanding is real progress, but it is only the beginning. We still have a long way to go, and we won’t stop until dairies across the country can find and keep a legal, stable workforce.

We are also as close as we’ve ever been in recent years to passing a new, comprehensive farm bill with significant wins for dairy. While we secured important wins to dairy programs, such as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, challenging market conditions have many producers wondering whether our risk management tools are keeping up. To that end, the NMPF board came together in Florida to support a package of improvements to both DMC and Dairy Revenue Protection as the House and Senate try to negotiate a farm bill in the final weeks of 119th Congress. NMPF is already hard at work trying to secure these improvements before the end of the year.

The issue of nutrition — the dietary guidelines, the broader debate about what goes on the American plate, defining “ultra-processed foods” — has taken a life of its own in Washington. We’ve been pushing everything we can think of from whole milk, defending flavored milk in schools, you name it, making the science-backed case that dairy is one of the most nutrient dense, accessible, and affordable foods that families have.

It’s been a very active couple of years on the trade front. We’ve been engaged in the USMCA joint review process since its beginning in July, working on Mexico and Canada to get them to live up to the commitments that they’ve made, especially Canada on their tariff rate quotas. Canada’s our second biggest market. It’s very important for us. We value this relationship, and I’m confident we’ll sort this out. Through August, U.S. dairy exports are up 12 percent, and if we can keep up this pace, we could set a record at $10.6 billion. Alongside the U.S. Dairy Export Council, we keep pushing to open new markets and defend the ones we have because, for a lot of our members, export markets aren’t just nice to have anymore; they’re essential.

NMPF also built out its state issues advocacy this year and tapped into state networks more than ever before to help address issues that may not have reached the federal level yet but still have major effects on our members.

The dairy industry has been tremendously committed and resilient, chipping away at these issues to make the future of dairy stronger. And we’re ready to adapt to the moment so our progress can continue.

The midterm election will result in a minimum of 83 new members of Congress next year out of the 435 House members and 100 senators. This nearly historic level of turnover will bring an immense challenge on Capitol Hill next year as we get to know all of these new members and their staff and find the ones who will work with us to advance not just dairy, but all of agriculture. It sure seems like it gets more difficult with each passing year to find staffers that understand the basic realities of dairy farming.

It is going to take all of us to deal with this. And my message is very simple: We will work with anyone we can find that is willing to pick up the mantle for dairy, regardless of what side of that aisle they are on. The issues we’re tackling are bigger than party politics.

The future of the dairy industry and its leadership is bright because we put in the time and effort in terms of staff in Washington to get these things done. We’ve had great success in Washington; we know what it takes to win, and that’s what makes this industry special.

Tomorrow’s election will bring about monumental levels of change, but we remain committed, resilient, and ready to advocate for you.

Gregg Doud

President & CEO, NMPF

 

Dairy’s future depends on its people

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

By Theresa Sweeney-Murphy, Senior Director, Communications & Membership Outreach

Dairy’s future depends on young farmers: the ones who will keep family farms viable, lead our cooperatives, and speak for our industry, from local zoning meetings to the halls of Congress.

Those leaders aren’t made overnight. Right now, they’re milking cows, managing employees, and raising families, and leaving the farm for even a few days can be a tremendous challenge. But stepping back from the day-to-day to learn and grow is what turns good farmers into strong leaders. And whether our industry has the leaders it needs tomorrow depends on their commitment to that growth, and on the investment we make in them today.

That idea drives National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF’s) National Young Cooperators (YC) Program, which helps dairy farmers grow into leaders on their farms, in their co-ops, and in their communities.

Leadership starts with knowing the business and where it’s headed. At World Dairy Expo earlier this month, the YC Program hosted a panel of experts in economics, genetics, nutrition, and production on how producers can respond more nimbly to market signals as co-ops and processors put a growing premium on butterfat, protein, and other solids. Later, we examined how rising international demand is shaping the future of U.S. dairy.

Knowing the business also means knowing the cooperative. A co-op is only as strong as the members who govern it, and today’s young farmers are tomorrow’s board members. At the YC Leadership and Development Program later this month, participants will take on the questions co-op boards wrestle with every day: How do you balance reinvesting in the co-op against returns to members now? How should a board measure management’s performance? They’ll work through those questions alongside more experienced co-op executives and farmer leaders.

Leadership also means taking care of yourself and your family. Markets, weather, and family dynamics all bear down on dairy farmers, and the next generation needs tools to handle that pressure. That’s why our upcoming event will include a candid conversation about mental health.

And no one leads alone. Some of the YC Program’s most lasting value comes from the conversations between sessions. The peers young farmers meet through YC become the people they call for advice, compare notes with, and lean on for years.

Volatile markets, labor shortages, trade uncertainty, and farm transitions will keep testing our industry. Young leaders who understand those issues, know how to advocate for solutions, and have a strong network behind them will carry dairy through them. Investing in them is investing in dairy’s future.

 

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on Oct. 12, 2026.

NMPF-Nominated Producer Selected for EU-U.S. Fellowship for Young Leaders in Agriculture

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Thomas French, an NMPF-nominated, sixth-generation farmer from Woodstock, Virginia, and herd manager at French Brothers Dairy, was selected to join the 2026-2027 cohort of the EU-U.S. Fellowship for Young Leaders in Agriculture. French is a product of NMPF’s Young Cooperators program and previously represented dairy producers at the White House during the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids signing ceremony in January.

The EU Delegation to the United States launched the fellowship last year with support from NMPF and USDEC, bringing together young European and American farmers to discuss shared challenges around economic resilience, generational transitions, and other pressing industry issues. The yearlong program pairs 24 fellows between the ages of 30 and 40 for monthly virtual meetings and in-person trips designed as an information exchange and educational series. Last year, NMPF and USDEC nominated and supported two producers for the inaugural fellowship: Sam Koester, a Dairy Farmers of America member from Indiana, and Lorilee Schultz, a Prairie Farms member from Illinois.

“Despite the ample challenges in Transatlantic ag trade, we can learn a lot from each other, and that’s especially true as we work to shape the policy future for dairy,” NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud said. “This program is an important tool in making that happen. NMPF is proud of one of our own dairy farmer leaders, Thomas French, who has been selected for the initiative. We are encouraged by what he and his peers will tackle over the next year in discussing shared issues in our industry and how we can both best build for the future.”

FARM Biosecurity Supports On-Farm Preparedness, Hosts Third Training

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program hosted its third in-person FARM Biosecurity training Sept. 15-16 in Rochester, MN. The in-person training gives farm-level personnel practical experience and educational resources to help strengthen biosecurity practices on dairy farms across the United States.

During the training, the 14 attendees learned more about creating biosecurity plans for individual farms, outlining potential movement paths and developing a proposed line of separation. Participants learned effective ways to help farmers develop plans to protect cattle health during a foot and mouth disease outbreak, a key part of on-farm preparation, and applied their knowledge through scenario-based training on a Minnesota dairy farm. The training also provided a networking opportunity between cooperative and processor staff, state animal health officials, and dairy producers.

FARM Biosecurity remains an industry leader in on-farm preparedness, offering an array of tools for producers to help safeguard herd health. The training is supported by a cooperative agreement with USDA National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) awarded to NMPF. The agreement supports expanding biosecurity resources available to farmers through the FARM Biosecurity program.

September NEXT-Assisted Export Sales Total 14.9 Million Pounds

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NEXT member cooperatives secured 91 contracts in September, adding 14.9 million pounds of product in NEXT-assisted sales in 2026. These products will go to customers in Asia, North America, Middle East-North Africa, Oceania, the Caribbean, South America and Central America and will be shipped from September 2026 through July 2027.

Exporting dairy products is critical to the viability of dairy farmers and their cooperatives across the country. Whether or not a cooperative is actively engaged in exporting, moving products into world markets is essential. NEXT provides a means to move domestic dairy products to overseas markets by helping to overcome U.S. dairy’s trade disadvantages.

The referenced amounts of dairy products reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. NEXT will pay export assistance to bidders only when export and delivery of product is verified by submission of required documentation.

Margins Tighten for Producers Amid Feed and Fuel Cost Increases

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Liquid milk production grew 1.7% in July, the slowest pace since March 2025. While the milking herd grew 1.9% from a year prior, heat stress and wildfire smoke contributed to a slight decrease in milk output per cow. Dairy markets are still showing signs of tightness in skim solids. Nonfat dry milk prices revisited the $2.10s in late September as domestic use increased amid limited supplies, and dry whey prices remained elevated as more of the whey stream is diverted into whey protein concentrates. Butter and cheese tell a different story, however. Domestic demand for butter has been robust, but production growth has outpaced domestic use. Circana data indicates that summer retail sales of cheese have slipped as inflation tightened consumer budgets. Despite strong export volumes for both products, strong production is limiting price upside.

Signs of increased economic pressure on producers are growing. Feed costs are rising as drought took a toll on crop yields. Elevated diesel costs are increasing hauling charges, and increasing interest rates and bond yields are likely to increase the cost of borrowing. DMC margins fell to $9.93/cwt in July as feed costs increased and the All-Milk Price eased slightly. As feed costs rise, DMC margins are expected to fall below the $9.50/cwt maximum payment threshold from September through December.