Author: Theresa Sweeney

Dietary Guidelines Reaffirm Dairy’s Crucial Nutritional Benefits; Fats Review Urged for 2025

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The National Milk Producers Federation praised USDA and HHS today upon the release of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), which reaffirmed dairy’s central role in diet as a provider of essential nutrients that are often under-consumed in American diets. NMPF also pledged to continue efforts to broaden consideration of the latest science on dairy fats in the next examination of the federal guidelines, which are released twice each decade.

“USDA and HHS deserve praise for once again recognizing just how vital dairy is to the nation’s health and well-being,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “We encourage them to affirm that role even more clearly in the next iteration of the Dietary Guidelines, to reflect the positive contribution of dairy fats in diets that’s increasingly recognized in a growing body of evidence.”

The guidelines culminate nearly two years of work that began in 2019 with the selection of the Scientific Advisory Committee, which drafts recommendations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services.

The latest update to the dietary guidelines restates dairy’s importance to diet. Highlights include:

  • A recommendation of three servings of dairy in the Healthy U.S. Eating pattern and Healthy Vegetarian Eating patterns, in keeping with past guidelines
  • Dairy’s continued recognition as a distinct food group
  • A recognition that Americans aren’t consuming enough dairy to meet their nutritional needs
  • Dairy’s reaffirmation as a source of four nutrients of public health concern, including potassium, calcium, and vitamin D, as well as iodine for pregnant women
  • A recommendation of milk, yogurt, and cheese in the first-ever healthy eating patterns geared toward infants and toddlers ages birth to 24 months.

“The panel’s recognition that dairy is a key source of ‘nutrients of concern’ in U.S. diets is especially important,” Mulhern said. “During a time of food insecurity and concerns about proper nutrition among Americans, dairy is a readily accessible solution to clearly identified public-health challenges. Dairy farmers work hard to be part of that solution, and the panel’s recognition of the nutritional importance of dairy is greatly appreciated.”

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans have significant implications for numerous government policy areas, including guiding the types of milk served in school meal programs and setting the parameters for how nutrition programs are implemented and developed.

NMPF Thanks Congress for Dairy Provisions in COVID Assistance Package

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) thanked Congress today for the positive steps it is taking through COVID relief legislation to assist dairy farmers who have faced unprecedented market volatility while working every day to nourish struggling families.

“With difficult months of the pandemic still ahead, it was crucial for lawmakers to come to a bipartisan agreement that helps farmers do what they do best: feed families. To do this, they need financial stability and ways to connect to families in need. We thank Congress for its leadership, and we look forward to working with USDA in implementing this legislation. Importantly, this package includes nearly $1 billion in targeted support to help dairy producers continue to feed families throughout these difficult times,” said Jim Mulhern, NMPF president and CEO.

Highlights of the pandemic legislative package for dairy producers include:

  • Dairy Donation Program – the measure provides $400 million for a new NMPF-backed Dairy Donation Program to help dairy stakeholders and non-profits work together to provide dairy products to food-insecure households and minimize food waste. This program is carefully balanced and is open to all dairy products. NMPF is grateful to Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) for their leadership in securing this and other dairy provisions in the package.
  • Payment Limits Flexibility – the bill includes dedicated funding to allow USDA to provide additional compensation to producers who were unable to receive the full support they needed under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program on account of payment limitations. NMPF thanks Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) for advocating for this provision, as well as the many members who have sought flexibility on this front all year long including Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA).
  • Supplemental DMC Payments – the measure establishes Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage payments for farms that have increased their DMC production history since 2014. These payments will be based on the difference between the farm’s 2019 actual production and its DMC production history. While the provision is targeted to smaller operations, it will enhance the farm bill baseline for all dairy farmers as it runs concurrently with DMC up to 2023.
  • Paycheck Protection Improvements – the bill includes the bipartisan NMPF-backed Paycheck Protection for Producers Act which would make the Paycheck Protection Program work better for sole proprietor, independent contractor, and self-employed dairy farmers by allowing them to use their 2019 gross farm income to determine their PPP loan amounts. NMPF commends Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), Anthony Brindisi (D-NY), and John Joyce (R-PA) for their work on this measure.

Dairy producers will also be eligible for support in the $11 billion agricultural disaster assistance package Congress has included in the legislation, with additional details expected in coming days. Of note, at least $1.5 billion of this package is dedicated to additional product purchases.

NMPF has served its members as the leading advocate for U.S. dairy farmers throughout the coronavirus pandemic. It has also been an industry leader in providing useful informational resources for the dairy sector.

Dairy is Defined by Giving This Unique Holiday Season

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

This year of COVID-19 has been difficult for dairy, just as it has for everyone else. But difficult times also bring out what’s best in people, and that’s certainly true among dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own. That cooperative spirit of serving others helps define dairy.

Examples of dairy doing good abound this year. This week’s Dairy Defined spotlights just some of the work done NMPF member cooperatives and their farmer-owners, each example highlighting the work dairy farmers do every day to serve others. The list– ranging from individual efforts to nationwide campaigns – is far from complete, of course. If you know of other stories that should be told, write us at info@nmpf.org with links and photos so we can add to this list!

Happy holidays. We look forward to being part of dairy’s continued commitment to improving lives in 2021.

READ IT HERE

Podcast: Sen. Pat Roberts on His Past and Agriculture’s Future

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts is leaving Congress after 40 years in January. The only person to lead both the House and Senate agriculture committees takes with him a wealth of wisdom in agriculture policy – but also holds optimism for agriculture’s ability to get things done in an environment of difficult challenges.

“I would just say that I am very confident that the people who will be taking my place, they have a lot of experience,” Roberts said in a Dairy Defined interview released today. “They’re good folks. I think the same attempt, at least, with regards to making it bipartisan, will continue.”

Roberts, who first came to Washington as a congressional staffer a half-century ago, also reflects on the two farm bills he led — 1996’s Freedom to Farm law and the 2018 bill — as well as one area where he wished he could have done more: his leadership of the Senate Intelligence Committee during the Iraq War. He also said he doesn’t consider his career to be over – without revealing plans, he said that when it comes to farm policy, “I intend to have my finger in the pie somewhere.”

To listen to the full discussion, click here. You can also find this and other NMPF podcasts on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify,  SoundCloud and Google Play. Broadcast outlets may use the MP3 file. Please attribute information to NMPF.

On Final Day, NMPF Urges Dairy Farmers to Sign Up for DMC

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is urging dairy farmers to sign up for 2021 coverage under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program if they haven’t yet done so, as today is the final day producers may enroll in the main federal dairy-farmer risk-management program. NMPF is advising any producer who wants to enroll in DMC for 2021 to contact their local Farm Service Agency office by the close of business today to at least notify them of intent to enroll.

“Given the current economic outlook and the heightened uncertainties of 2021, DMC signup, especially at the maximum $9.50 coverage level, is the rational choice for dairy producers,” said Jim Mulhern, NMPF President and CEO. “But to take advantage of this program, farmers need to sign up now.”

The DMC, the main federal risk-protection tool for dairy farmers, is currently projected to pay all producers enrolled at the maximum $9.50/cwt. coverage level through much of 2021. The program, which by year’s end may end up with payments for five months of 2020, offers protection against volatile market conditions that are expected to persist well into next year.

NMPF has produced an easy-to-digest brochure highlighting the benefits of DMC coverage and an explanation of how the program works. Dairy producers can also visit NMPF’s page on risk management to learn more about DMC and other tools to promote financial security for dairy operations.

Today is also the signup deadline for the second round of Coronavirus Food Assistance Program disaster payments.

NMPF Statement on Tom Vilsack’s Nomination to Become Secretary of Agriculture

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

In response to President-elect Joe Biden’s nomination today of Tom Vilsack to become Secretary of Agriculture, National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern offered the following statement:

“Tom Vilsack has dedicated his life to service. While we will miss him as a colleague and friend, all of us in the dairy community who have had the opportunity to work with him over the past four years know his deep passion and commitment to rural America and his understanding of its interdependence with our urban and suburban communities.

“The challenges that lie ahead are many – from a battered farm economy to climate change, the environment and sustainability, to nutrition and the importance of addressing the nation’s growing food insecurity, as well as the need for better trade policy and expanded markets abroad, and much more. No one is better suited to tackle these challenges than Tom Vilsack.

“We applaud President-elect Biden’s decision, and we look forward to Secretary Vilsack’s next chapter of leadership in American agriculture.”

USDEC, NMPF and CCFN Praise Nomination of Katherine Tai to be U.S. Trade Representative

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) praised President-elect Biden’s selection of Katherine Tai for nomination as the next United States Trade Representative.

“With the growing importance of agricultural exports to the financial well-being of America’s dairy farmers, the U.S. Dairy Export Council is excited to welcome President-elect Biden’s nomination of Katherine Tai as U.S. Trade Representative,” said Krysta Harden, Chief Operating Officer of USDEC. “As a central member of the President-elect’s economic team, Ms. Tai will be able to ensure that agricultural exports remain strong and continue to grow, including through strong enforcement of trade agreements.”

“On behalf of America’s dairy producers, the National Milk Producers Federation welcomes the naming of Katherine Tai for the position of U.S. Trade Representative,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF. “With over 15 percent of U.S. milk production being exported each year, new trade agreements and enforcement of current trade agreements are critical for the livelihood of America’s dairy farmers. We hope to see swift action by Congress to confirm Ms. Tai to this critical position and look forward to working closely with her on agriculture and trade policies that benefit America’s dairy farmers.”

“The Consortium for Common Food Names congratulates Ms. Tai on her nomination for the role as the chief trade ambassador for the United States,” said Jaime Castaneda, Executive Director of CCFN. “We are looking forward to working alongside Ms. Tai and the USTR team to ensure the rights of U.S. food producers, retailers and consumers to market and purchase commonly-named products are not further restricted by predatory EU trade practices.”

NMPF, USDEC and CCFN have enjoyed a long history of working with Ms. Tai throughout the course of numerous negotiations including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and U.S.- Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). We have been impressed by her strategic insight, dedication and ardent efforts to work on behalf of improved trade policies for U.S. farmers, workers and businesses across the country.

Dairy Industry Applauds USTR Action to Address Canadian TRQ Violations

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) applaud today’s announcement that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) will initiate official consultations with Canada to examine the administration of its dairy Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) obligations. The two organizations, with strong bipartisan backing from Congress, have long raised the alarm about the need to ensure the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is fully enforced, due to Canada’s history of undermining its trade commitments.

“USMCA is designed to improve trade with Canada, while modifying some of Canada’s trade-distorting dairy policies. We knew from day one that enforcement would be key to bringing the intended benefits home to America’s dairy industry. I applaud USTR for hearing our concerns and relying on our guidance to take this critical enforcement step to ensure that the agreement is executed in both letter and spirit,” said Tom Vilsack, president and CEO of USDEC. “This is the critical first step, but more work may be needed to ensure Canada complies with its Class 7 related USMCA commitments as well.”

Even prior to its entry into force, USDEC and NMPF monitored Canada’s actions regarding its USMCA commitments and urged Congress and the administration to make this a priority as soon as USMCA entered into force. Canada has distorted its TRQ administration to limit imports from the U.S. Earlier this year, USDEC and NMPF highlighted for USTR and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) the inconsistencies between Canada’s dairy TRQ allocations and Canada’s USMCA obligations. In a detailed filing submitted to the administration, NMPF and USDEC provided the agencies with a specific legal review of the Canadian TRQ system and an explanation of the negative impacts resulting from them.

“America’s dairy farmers appreciate USTR’s commitment to the fair and transparent enforcement of USMCA. Enforcement has been one of the top priorities of our industry since the final agreement was announced, and we’ve worked diligently to ensure that it remains one of USTR’s top priorities, as well. Only when Canada is held fully accountable to its trade commitments will America’s dairy farmers be able to realize the full benefit of the provisions that the U.S. government worked so hard to secure,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “We look forward to working closely with the incoming administration as well since enforcement efforts are likely to require sustained focus going forward.”

The concerns raised by USDEC and NMPF have been echoed by a broad bipartisan coalition of members of Congress. In August, 104 Representatives sent a letter to USTR and USDA asking for Canada to be held accountable to its trade promises while a letter in the Senate was signed by 25 Senators. USDEC and NMPF commend the continued engagement of so many members of Congress on this important issue.

NMPF Urges USDA to Extend DMC Signup Deadline

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The National Milk Producers Federation urged USDA to extend signup for the 2021 Dairy Margin Coverage to Jan. 30, 2021, allowing dairy farmers to make better-informed choices while giving both milk producers and USDA staff strained by coronavirus-related challenges additional time to communicate. The current signup deadline of Friday, Dec. 11 remains in place while USDA considers NMPF’s request.

“Extending the DMC deadline to the end of next month will allow farmers to better focus on the turbulent marketing environment we now expect to see in 2021, once we are through the upcoming holiday season,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF, in the letter. “An extension would allow more time for interaction between USDA staff and farmers – both of whom are working through the challenges of this very difficult year.” USDA last week announced a similar one-month deadline extension to assist fisherman applying for its seafood trade relief program.

The DMC, the main federal risk-protection tool for dairy farmers, is projected to provide support to producers enrolled at the maximum $9.50/cwt. coverage level through at least the first half of 2021, as volatile market conditions are expected to persist well into next year. NMPF is urging dairy farmers to sign up for the program, given the high likelihood that payments will far exceed premiums next year.

NMPF has produced an easy-to-digest brochure highlighting the benefits of DMC coverage and an explanation of how the program works. Dairy producers can also visit NMPF’s page on risk management to learn more about DMC and other tools to promote financial security for dairy operations.

Dairy Defined: Where Dairy Terms are Done Right – a Photo Essay

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

This week’s Dairy Defined is a little different: It’s a multi-lingual tour of alternative beverages, coming to you from the European Union, where an oat drink is called … an oat drink.

While many EU dairy policies leave much to be desired, its approach to dairy labeling shows how it’s possible to name beverages accurately, no matter what fake-milk marketers and FDA inaction may enable in the United States. From “hirse” and “chanvre” to “amande” and “soja,” EU grocery shoppers have a wealth of plant-based beverages to choose from – and somehow those beverages manage to exist, like they do in almost the entire world, without being called milk.

Don’t believe it? Click here for proof.

NMPF Congratulates Rep. David Scott on Election as Chairman of House Agriculture Committee

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The National Milk Producers Federation today congratulated Representative David Scott (D-GA) on being elected by his colleagues to serve as the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in the 117th Congress. Rep. Scott has served on the committee since coming to Congress in 2003.

“We congratulate Congressman Scott on his new role as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee and look forward to working closely with him to address the challenges facing the nation’s dairy farmers and their cooperatives,” said Jim Mulhern, NMPF president and CEO. “We value his years of service on the committee and appreciate his support on numerous issues, ranging from nutrition to environmental policy.”

Rep. Scott previously served as Chairman of the Dairy Subcommittee during the 2009 dairy market collapse and has supported bipartisan legislation to enhance milk consumption in our schools. In addition to his work on multiple farm bills, he has also backed several important environmental and sustainability measures, including 2016 agricultural biotechnology disclosure legislation.

“Representative Scott oversaw the Dairy Subcommittee at an important time for the industry, during the unprecedented downturn of 2009. We look forward to once again partnering with him as dairy producers continue to weather significant challenges, including those brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic during the last year,” Mulhern said.