NMPF Vice President of the National Dairy FARM Program Emily Yeiser Stepp discusses the inception and evolution of the FARM Program, what compels consumers to choose between dairy and alternative products, and what dairy farmers are doing to demonstrate their commitment to their animals and the environment, on the “Fallon Forum” podcast.
Author: Theresa Sweeney
NMPF Statement on Proposed Immigration Reform Legislation
In response to the immigration bill introduced today in Congress, NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern offered the following statement:
“As a leader in agricultural labor reform efforts, NMPF knows all too well that immigration policy is one of the most controversial and difficult issues to solve. We applaud President Biden, Representative Sanchez, and Senator Menendez for stepping up and leading with the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, making clear that immigration legislation is a significant, immediate priority. Still, reforms to our immigration system must include changes crucial for the dairy workforce. These include extending to current workers and their families the legal protections they have earned and enabling dairy farmers to use a guest worker program to supplement their domestic workforce when needed.
“NMPF looks forward to continuing to work with our policy champions in Congress in a bipartisan manner, as well as the administration, to get ag labor reform across the finish line and secure the stable, legal workforce dairy needs to continue producing affordable nutritious food to feed our country and our world.”
Dairy Defined: To Reduce Greenhouse Gases, Dairy Has Solutions for All Sizes
The methane digester on Belden Farms in Hatfield, MA, owned and operated by Darryl and Lucinda Williams, generates almost 2.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year, avoiding 1,768 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions — equivalent to taking 382 cars off the road.
That’s a big reduction – and one from a farm without a lot of dairy cows. The farm’s mostly Holstein 174 milking-cow herd is much smaller than many other operations with the same technology. They make it work through cooperation: Their digestor is also supplied by the farm’s 30 beef cattle and food waste from local businesses.
The Williams family’s history of stewardship goes back to 1661, caring for their animals across 13 generations. A founding member family of the Agri-Mark cooperative, they have shown that tackling greenhouse gases in dairy can be scalable, as well as doable, for farms of all sizes today and in the future. That’s key to the dairy sector’s goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Solutions look different for different operations. They’re all united by a common goal, and common values.
On the other side of the country, in Sunnyside, Washington, Dan DeGroot has adjusted his cow housing at Skyridge Farm switching from an open lot to a free-stall operation beginning in 2003.
The DeGroots installed a variety of technologies – variable-speed drive (VSD) motors, programmable logic controllers (PLC), energy efficient lighting, and more – to save energy and make the cows more comfortable, decreasing emissions and increasing productivity along the way.
Other changes, like a recycling program, further technology upgrades and modified tilling, were all adopted after DeGroot systematically analyzed as many processes on his farm as possible and started selecting areas for improvement.
One of the tools available to farmers wanting to quantify and improve their sustainability efforts is the FARM Environmental Stewardship program area. Using a peer-reviewed model, the program estimates farm-level greenhouse gas emissions and energy use on dairy farms. It also provides tools for farmers to improve their carbon footprints.
Farms that undergo an environmental stewardship evaluation come away with a better understanding of how their current practices relate to greenhouse gas emissions. Then, with FARM resources such as its Continuous Improvement Reference Manual, they can set goals to decrease their emissions, helping to set the sector as a whole on a path toward Net Zero, along with a set of sustainability goals for 2050 that include becoming carbon neutral or better, optimizing water use while maximizing recycling, and improving water quality.
Right now, the U.S. dairy industry is responsible for less than two percent of GHG emissions in the country. Much of that is methane, which has an impact that many scientists say is likely overstated. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, North America – which is dominated by U.S. dairy production – is the only region in the world where absolute emissions decreased from 2005 to 2015, by a total of 5 percent. That occurred even as milk production increased over that same time period.
That doesn’t happen because of luck. The DeGroots and the Williamses found tools that work for them and scaled them for success. But they’re far from the only dairy farmers who have done so – such stories can be told across the sector. Collectively, the efforts of these farmers show how U.S. dairy is already a force for good on the global climate stage. The work has already been going on for decades. Its impact only grows more powerful with each passing day.
NMPF Congratulates Senator Baldwin on Agriculture Appropriations Chair Selection
The National Milk Producers Federation today congratulated Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) on her selection as Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.
“During her time in both the House and the Senate, Senator Baldwin has been an effective champion for dairy farmers in Wisconsin and beyond,” said Jim Mulhern, NMPF president and CEO. “She has fervently fought for dairy’s good name in the face of FDA’s unwillingness to enforce clear, simple dairy product terms. She also has played a key role in efforts to positively reform dairy policy and tirelessly worked on the Appropriations Committee to champion dairy innovation, as well as initiatives to combat farmer stress in rural America.”
Senator Baldwin has served on the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which sets spending for agriculture and numerous nutrition programs along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, for six years. During that time she has sponsored the bipartisan DAIRY PRIDE Act, which would compel FDA to enforce current law by requiring marketers of imitation dairy products to use proper labeling. She has also advocated successfully for critical improvements to the dairy safety net both in the Bipartisan Budget Act and the 2018 Farm Bill. Finally, Baldwin sponsored the bipartisan FARMERS FIRST Act which reestablished USDA’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to help farmers manage the unique stressors they face.
“Senator Baldwin becomes Chair of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee with a strong record of bipartisan achievement at a critical time for our nation’s dairy producers and their cooperatives,” Mulhern said. “We look forward to working with her as our nation continues to weather the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and begins to tackle the challenges that will follow.”
A Dairy Farmer’s Guide to the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented numerous challenges for U.S. dairy farmers, who remain committed to implementing CDC-recommended workforce best practices to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus on farms. Access to safe and highly effective vaccines will give the dairy workforce and their families an added layer of protection against COVID-19.
Vaccinating essential workers, including the dairy workforce, is important because of their role in maintaining critical infrastructure operations and their increased risk of getting and spreading COVID-19. Vaccination is one of many important tools to help stop the pandemic. See below for some frequently-asked-questions about the vaccine and its rollout, and visit CDC’s website for more information.
How do I get a vaccine?
The CDC has issued recommendations for who should get the vaccine first, but states have established their own criteria. Each state has divided their populations into groups or phases or tiers, and each is working through them at its own pace. Click on your state below for the latest information.
| Alabama | Louisiana | Ohio |
What can I do now to protect myself and my workforce from COVID-19?
The CDC provides clear guidance about preventing infection in both English and Spanish. It also provides printable factsheets and posters in both languages suitable for workplace use. Dairy farmers are encouraged to review and use the resources below. Visit www.nmpf.org/coronavirus for a full listing of COVID-19 prevention and management resources for dairy farmers and cooperatives.
- Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus
- Interim Guidance for Agriculture Workers and Employers
- Agricultural Employer Checklist for Creating a COVID-19 Assessment and Control Plan
- Dairy Farmer Handbook on Coronavirus Prevention and Management (English and Spanish)
- Recommended Protocols for Dairy Farms When an Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
What should I know about getting vaccinated?
| Before Your Appointment | After Your First Vaccine |
If I already had COVID-19 and recovered, do I still need to be vaccinated?
Yes. According to the CDC, due to the severe health risks associated with COVID-19 and the fact that reinfection with COVID-19 is possible, you should be vaccinated regardless of whether you already had COVID-19 infection. If you were treated for COVID-19 symptoms with monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma, you should wait 90 days before getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure what treatments you received or if you have more questions about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Are there any resources available to share with employees about the COVID-19 vaccine and its rollout?
The CDC has put together a COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkit for Essential Workers to help employers educate their essential workers about this important new prevention tool. The toolkit is intended to educate employees about COVID-19 vaccines, raise awareness about the benefits of vaccination, and address common questions and concerns. The toolkit contains a variety of resources that you can use, including:
- Key Messages
- FAQ’s for Employers
- Facts About COVID–19 Vaccines (English and Spanish)
Milk-Production Increase Outstripping Supply Gains, NMPF’s Vitaliano Says
Milk production is increasing faster than demand is recovering, making 2021 a challenging year for dairy farmers, said Peter Vitaliano, NMPF’s chief economist, in an NMPF podcast released today.
“On balance, things are improving a little bit” in dairy demand, “but they’re still falling short of the milk production rate of increase,” Vitaliano said. Still, bright spots remain for the medium- and longer-term dairy outlook. Demand for U.S. dairy exports is at record levels, and demand for dairy away from home should increase as the COVID-19 pandemic fades, he said.
The full podcast is here. You can also find this and other NMPF podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeart Radio. Broadcast outlets may use the MP3 file. Please attribute information to NMPF.
CWT assists member export sales of 12.7 million pounds in January
CWT assisted member cooperatives in securing 79 contracts resulting in sales of 3 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 3.3 million pounds of butter, 985,466 pounds of anhydrous milkfat (AMF), 3 million pounds of whole milk powder, and 2.4 pounds of cream cheese. The product is going to 56 customers in 15 countries in Asia, Central America, the Middle East, North Africa, Oceania and South America. The product will be shipped during the months of January through June 2021.
These transactions will move the equivalent of 170.2 million pounds of milk on a milkfat basis overseas.
Assisting CWT member cooperatives to gain and maintain world market share through the Export Assistance program, in the long-term expands the demand for U.S. dairy products and the U.S. farm milk that produces them. This, in turn, positively impacts all U.S. dairy farmers by strengthening and maintaining the value of dairy products that directly impact their milk price.
The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
All cooperatives and dairy farmers are encouraged to add their support to this important program. Membership forms are available at http://www.cwt.coop/membership.
2021 Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program Applications Accepted
NMPF is now accepting applications for its National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Each year, NMPF awards scholarships to outstanding graduate students (enrolled in Master’s or Ph.D. programs) who are actively pursuing dairy-related fields of research that are of immediate interest to NMPF member cooperatives and the US dairy industry at large.
Graduate students pursuing research of direct benefit to milk marketing cooperatives and dairy producers are encouraged to apply (applicants do not need to be members of NMPF to qualify). The top applicant will be awarded the Hintz Memorial Scholarship, created in 2005 in honor of the late Cass-Clay Creamery Board Chairman Murray Hintz who was instrumental in establishing NMPF’s scholarship program.
Recommended fields of study include but are not limited to Agriculture Communications and Journalism, Animal Health, Animal and/or Human Nutrition, Bovine Genetics, Dairy Products Processing, Dairy Science, Economics, Environmental Science, Food Science, Food Safety, Herd Management, and Marketing and Price Analysis.
Applications must be received no later than Friday, April 16, 2021. For an application or more information, please visit the NMPF website or email scholarship@nmpf.org.
Jonker Appointed to USDA Animal Disease Preparedness Board
Dr. Jamie Jonker, NMPF Vice President for Sustainability & Scientific Affairs, was appointed as an ex officio member to the USDA APHIS Veterinary Services’ National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP) Consultation Board in January.
NADPRP was established as part of the 2018 Farm Bill to provide funds to eligible entities to conduct high-value projects that will help prevent the introduction and spread of foreign and emerging animal diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture.
Its board includes 12 voting members and 4 ex officio non-voting members. The United States Animal Health Association (USAHA) coordinates the nomination of ten members, including three State Animal Health Official representatives, four industry representatives (one each from cattle, swine, poultry, and small ruminants), and three academic representatives. USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will nominate one member, and APHIS’ tribal liaison will nominate one member to represent interests from tribal organizations. The 4 ex officio members are also nominated by USAHA to represent additional animal agricultural industries with interest in participating in NADPRP.
The NADPRP Board is charged with representing the interests of all eligible entities and supporting the program by:
- Developing and consulting with Veterinary Services on annual funding priorities;
- Nominating experts to review and rank proposals;
- Providing input on and approving the program’s annual spending plan; and
- Providing feedback to improve the program’s processes.
More information online at NADPRP Website.
FARM Program Increases Digital Engagement
As part of its digital growth and engagement, the National Dairy FARM Program has developed a webpage tailored to the needs of dairy farmers. The page includes resources, FAQs, and farmer-specific details about each program area, and was designed as an evolving collection of everything a farmer may need regarding FARM.
Also, after a successful relaunch of the digital Farmer Focus series in 2020, FARM and NMPF will continue to profile farmers on a monthly basis through the coming year. In January, Josh Sauter from Cannon Falls, MN shared his secret to resilience and talked about how he and his family have managed challenges in the past, unpredictability in the present, and opportunities in the future.
FARM also saw increased attendance at virtual events and online engagements. More than 100 attendees participated in the most-attended Evaluator H Engagement Hour and during the bi-monthly Quick Convos, views peaked at 300.
Dairy Key to USDA Ag Innovation Agenda Research Strategy
USDA released on Jan. 12 the U.S. Agriculture Innovation Strategy Directional Vision for Research summary and dashboard that will help to guide future research decisions within USDA. The strategy synthesizes information USDA collected as part of the public engagement in 2020 on research priorities under the Agriculture Innovation Agenda.
NMPF, Newtrient LLC, and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy submitted a series of comments to USDA on their request for comments on the Ag Innovation Agenda. These wide-ranging comments helped USDA put forth a clear and comprehensive research strategy specific for the U.S. dairy industry under four aspirational goals:
- Production Aspirational Goal: Increase agricultural production by optimizing yield and/or quality with higher input use efficiency;
- Production Capability Aspirational Goal: Increase agricultural production capabilities of soil, water, and air by developing and implementing sustainable farming tools and practices;
- Market Expansion and Diversity Aspirational Goal: Increase market diversity and product utility of the farming system to expand value, reach, and resiliency; and
- Data Aspirational Goal: Standardize, align, and integrate agricultural research and operational data to enable and energize a broad informatics ecosystem to drive tomorrow’s agricultural operations and state and federal programs.
NMPF Urges USTR to Enhance Efforts to Protect Use of Common Cheese Names
NMPF joined with USDEC to submit comments on Jan. 28 to the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office urging a more robust approach to preserving U.S. cheesemakers’ ability to export their products that rely on common cheese names such as parmesan, feta, asiago and others. The submission also voiced strong support for more detailed comments filed by the Consortium for Common Food Names. Both were filed in response to USTR’s call for input to inform its annual Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property issues that documents key IP challenges facing U.S. companies and what USTR is doing to address them.
NMPF noted in the comments that EU use of FTAs to erect barriers to competition “creates a deeply uneven playing field that makes it much more difficult to successfully export the products that American workers have created using milk from U.S. farms.” To address this, NMPF urged the Administration to “secure firm and explicit commitments assuring the future use of specific generic food and beverage terms targeted by or at risk of EU monopolization efforts” and noted that last year more than 160 Senators and Republicans had urged the pursuit of that policy.
