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NMPF Celebrates House Passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud:

“It’s hard to overstate the significance of congressional passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, not only because it represents major progress in improving the nourishment of American schoolkids, but also because of what it says about how persistent, long-term effort can still bring bipartisan success in Congress.

“Since 2012, when federal nutrition rules took whole and 2% milk out of school meals programs, dairy farmers and their cooperatives have pointed out the flaws in that decision, which wasn’t aligned with consumer choice. What was true then became even more true in years to come, as newer research consistently showed the value of milk at all fat levels and consumers moved even further toward fuller-fat varieties in their purchases.

“And now the day has arrived. We thank Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson of Pennsylvania and Representative Kim Schrier of Washington for their critical roles in championing the most recent version of this important legislation to the finish line and the many other congressional leaders who preceded them in their efforts to protect access to nutritious milk in schools . Dairy doesn’t succeed without tireless advocates on Capitol Hill, and it’s been an honor to work with these members and their staffs in this effort.

“The next step, after a presidential signature, is implementation. We pledge our fullest support to federal officials and school districts across the nation to help with implementation of this important legislation. Congress made a positive difference today. We are thrilled to be a part of it.”

NMPF’s Galen Closes Career, With a Message

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

History may not rhyme, but it echoes, and for all the challenges dairy has faced, a few key areas have continued to resurface throughout Chris Galen’s nearly three decades in dairy.

“A lot of what I had worked on at the start of my career, and also now in the last few years of my career at National Milk, has been on milk pricing, in particular federal milk marketing order reforms,” said Galen, NMPF’s longtime communications leader and the current Senior Vice President of Member Services and Governance, in a Dairy Defined podcast. “A lot of what we have to do, has to do with just making certain that farmers are paid fairly.”

Galen reflects on the changes of dairy’s structure in the 21st century, the continued importance of family farms to dairy, and the evolution of media that has made it easier to serve members while getting dairy’s message to a broader audience.

Whole Milk is (Excruciatingly Close to Being) Back

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

It’s so close you can almost taste it.

Senate passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act means all that remains is for the House of Representatives to bring it to the floor for a vote. And the House vote should be a foregone conclusion: In 2023 the chamber passed it overwhelmingly, and if anything, political support should be even stronger this time.

Whole milk will be back in schools, and that’s another cause for holiday cheer. Nutrition science over the past decade has shown its place in a healthy child’s diet. And consumers are speaking ever-more-loudly in its favor. To put it in a graphic: Using USDA data, below are the market shares of unflavored whole, 2%, 1% and skim milk in 2012 — the year federal rules changed to keep whole milk out of federal nutrition programs…

…and in 2024, after a dozen years of “healthier” options in schools.

The science has spoken. And as shown above, consumers have spoken, increasingly turning to whole milk at home even as schools labor under restrictions. We at NMPF have spoken, and spoken, and spoken, again and again. And you can speak too, via our call-to-action that helps you write your House member as an advocate for whole milk.

It’s time. In fact, it’s long past time. But it’s about to happen, and you should be a part of it. Write your lawmaker, raise a glass — and look forward to better school nutrition in 2026.

 

NMPF’s Bjerga on Why Congress Must Pass Whole Milk Law

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

NMPF Executive Vice President Alan Bjerga discusses the importance of Congress passing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and NMPF’s grassroots advocacy on the issue in an interview with WEKZ radio in Janesville, WI. Bjerga also explains the advantages of getting whole milk back in schools via Congress rather than through updated dietary guidelines expected next year in which fuller-fat dairy is also expected to fare well, in a conversation that touches on the importance of congressional action on other issues important to dairy, including farm labor and trade.

NMPF, USDEC Praise Bipartisan Call for USMCA Dairy Enforcement

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council commended 74 House lawmakers today for sending a bipartisan letter urging the U.S. government to leverage the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) 2026 Joint Review to address concerns over the deal’s dairy provision implementation.

The letter to United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer highlights Canada’s attempts to evade its dairy commitments by misallocating its USMCA dairy tariff rate quotas and continuing to export artificially low-priced dairy proteins without appropriate limits. It also touches on Mexico’s need to fully implement common cheese name protections agreed to as part of USMCA. The lawmakers called on the administration to ensure these issues are resolved during the upcoming review process.

“USMCA raised the standard for what a trade agreement could be and promised new opportunities for U.S. dairy farmers,” Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF said. “Unfortunately, the Canadian government has continued to evade its dairy trade obligations, and U.S. dairy farmers are not seeing the full benefits USMCA intended. We commend Representatives Tenney, DelBene, Wied, and Costa for championing this effort and working with the Administration to hold our trading partners accountable.”

“Our industry thrives when trade agreements deliver real results for the people they are meant to support,” Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC said. “Representatives Tenney, DelBene, Wied, and Costa are standing up for our dairy producers and processors by ensuring our trading partners honor their trade obligations. We are grateful for their leadership and for their commitment to securing the full benefits of USMCA for U.S. dairy. USDEC is committed to working closely with both Congress and the Administration to address these dairy issues as the USMCA Review moves forward.”

U.S. dairy exports to Mexico and Canada last year exceeded $3.6 billion, accounting for 44% of total export value. USMCA preserved duty-free access for U.S. dairy into Mexico and introduced a series of provisions to expand market access into Canada and discipline trade-distorting practices, both of which Canada has failed to fully implement.

NMPF, USDEC Testify on USMCA Dairy Priorities at USTR Hearing

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF and USDEC Executive Vice President for Trade Policy and Global Affairs Shawna Morris testified today before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), urging the administration to leverage the 2026 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Review to ensure that the agreement’s anticipated benefits for U.S. dairy producers and exporters are fully achieved.

“USMCA is a critical agreement for the U.S. dairy community,” said Morris at the hearing. “It’s crucial that the Review address targeted implementation problems with Mexico and Canada to create an even stronger agreement that will be up to the task of facilitating U.S.-Mexico-Canadian trade for years to come.”

Throughout her testimony, Morris highlighted a few key priorities, including combatting Canada’s continued manipulation of its administration of dairy tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) that denies U.S. exporters the meaningful market access guaranteed under USMCA. She also focused on Canada’s circumvention of USMCA dairy protein export disciplines has resulted in continued offloading of low-priced dairy proteins, undercutting U.S. products in both domestic and global markets.

Morris urged the administration to ensure Mexico upholds its USMCA commitments to protect common cheese names such as “parmesan” and “provolone.” The issue is increasingly pressing as ongoing European Union trade negotiations with Mexico seek to restrict the use of generic terms in the United States’ largest dairy market.

The testimony builds on joint comments submitted by USDEC and NMPF on Oct. 31, as well as an Aug. 5 testimony and two filings provided to the U.S. International Trade Commission on July 15 and Nov. 17 as part of its Section 332 investigation into U.S. global competitiveness on nonfat milk solids. An investigation report due in spring 2026 will be an important resource for USTR to address Canadian attempts to evade its dairy protein export disciplines.

NMPF Summer Internship Taking Applications

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation is offering a 10–12-week summer internship in the Washington D.C. metro area. This internship offers students the unique opportunity to better understand the intersection of U.S. dairy industry policy, regulatory affairs, and trade.

Interns will have the opportunity to learn from NMPF’s expert staff, covering areas including government relations, regulatory affairs, trade, communications, membership services and the National Dairy FARM Program. More information and the application can be found here. Applications close Dec. 31.

NMPF Calls Out Foreign Suppliers’ Anticompetitive Trade Practices

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF submitted final joint written comments with the U.S. Dairy Export Council on Nov. 17 to the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) as part of the agency’s Section 332 investigation into the United States’ global nonfat milk solids competitiveness.

The organizations in their comments highlight how Canada continues to distort global nonfat milk solids markets through its new Class 4a pricing system that enables the production of low-priced dairy proteins destined for export. Clear production shifts following USMCA’s implementation indicate a deliberate attempt by Canada to circumvent the trade deal’s export disciplines established for dairy proteins, consequently undercutting U.S. producers at home and abroad. As the United States begins the mandated USMCA 2026 Joint Review, the USITC report will be a significant resource in ensuring that the agreement works as U.S. negotiators intended.

The submission also underscores the long-term competitive imbalance created by the European Union’s historic subsidies for casein and caseinate production, noting that more than four decades of financial support allowed European processors to build a dominant global position that persists today. Although the subsidy scheme ended in 2013, its legacy remains evident in the scale, infrastructure, and export strength of EU manufacturers, particularly in Ireland, France, and the Netherlands. NMPF’s filing urges the USITC to recognize the cumulative effect of these foreign policies on U.S. dairy competitiveness and to reflect these realities in its final report.

The filing complemented an earlier submission on July 16 and joint NMPF and U.S. Dairy Export Council testimony by Jaime Castaneda and William Loux at a July 28 hearing. The investigation follows persistent NMPF advocacy for the U.S. government to address Canadian attempts to evade their USMCA dairy commitments in a manner that disadvantages U.S. producers.

NMPF Strengthens Ties in Mexico

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF built on its longstanding ties with Mexico during a USDA agricultural trade mission from Nov. 3–6, where Jaime Castaneda, executive vice president for policy development and strategy, and Shawna Morris, executive vice president for trade policy and global affairs, represented the organization as part of the U.S. delegation of agribusinesses and organizations led by USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.

NMPF met with Mexican Undersecretary of Foreign Trade Luis Rosendo Gutierrez and leadership from the Mexican intellectual property office. The delegation also engaged Mexican producer and processor organizations and several major dairy importers.

Castaneda and Morris reinforced to Mexican government officials the importance of preserving and strengthening the mutually beneficial dairy trade relationship between the United States and Mexico. As part of that discussion, NMPF pressed Mexican officials to ensure full implementation of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) provisions related to the protections of common cheese terms and prior users of generic names. U.S. exporters’ rights to use certain terms are at risk as the European Union advances toward implementation of its updated trade deal with Mexico, which includes various restrictions on the use of common food names.

NMPF will continue to work with the U.S. and Mexican governments to ensure the important bilateral trade relationship is preserved and outstanding issues like the right to use common names are resolved in the USMCA 2026 Joint Review process.

Young Dairy Leaders Prepare for Future Board Service at Annual Meeting

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

More than 70 young dairy farmers and co-op coordinators representing 12 NMPF member cooperatives met for leadership training during the National Young Cooperators (YC) Program’s annual Leadership and Development Program, held in conjunction with the Joint Annual Meeting.

The professional development event held Nov. 9-11 focused on what it means to serve on a board of directors, with speaker sessions detailing cooperative governance fundamentals, CEO insights on cooperative success, financial fundamentals, ways to manage group conflict, as well as a hands-on workshop about strategic leadership and fostering healthy practices that support long-term business success. The Young Cooperators also got a rundown of the dairy industry in Texas and went on a group tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards, complete with a cattle drive of Texas Longhorns.

YC chairpersons Tim and Megan Schrupp of Eden Valley, MN, helped lead the programming. “Engaging with fellow young dairymen and women through the National YC Program, we have observed the determination, talent, and sense of community that defines this new generation of dairy leaders,” Megan said.

“Continued investment from groups such as NMPF, focusing on leadership, innovation, and collaboration, means that the future of dairy farming rests in capable hands, ensuring our industry will continue to nourish and connect communities for generations to come,” Tim added.

The National YC Program has provided training and leadership development opportunities to beginning dairy farmers for more than 70 years, and aims to provide producers with the education, tools and resources they need to improve their leadership skills, profitability and resilience through year-round virtual and in-person programming.

NMPF runs the program, which is funded by its members with support from Farm Credit, Ever.Ag, Monument Advocacy, Medgene and Agri-Services Agency. The YCs invite employees and owners of dairy farms that are members of an NMPF member cooperative and under the age of 45, as well as co-op staff, to participate.

FARM Program Announces 2025 Excellence Awards Winners

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Integrity, ingenuity and the pursuit of excellence earned three farms and one program evaluator this year’s National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program’s Excellence Awards, which were announced Nov. 11 at the Joint Annual Meeting.

The awards recognize participants who uphold program values by demonstrating U.S. dairy farmers are committed to producing high quality, wholesome milk.

The 2025 FARM Excellence Award recipients are:

  • Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship — Bar E Dairy (Land O’Lakes, Inc.)
  • Environmental Stewardship — Five Star Dairy Farm LLC (Associated Milk Producers Inc.)
  • Workforce Development — Glezen Farms, LLC (Maola Local Dairies)
  • Evaluator of the Year — Lisa Ford (Cayuga Marketing)

“These winners exemplify FARM’s mission of continuous improvement through action, integrity and resilience,” Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Meggan Hain said. “It’s our honor to highlight the good deeds of the dairy industry, not only to assure customers, but also to reward farmers for their continued contributions and dedication.”

FARM created the awards in 2021 to celebrate farms dedicated to continuous improvement in each of the FARM Program pillars and to recognize a FARM Program evaluator for their exceptional care and attention to the farms they evaluate. The awards are judged by FARM Farmer Advisory Council members and other subject matter experts.

Farms and evaluators may be nominated by fellow dairy farmers and evaluators, members of their communities, extension, cooperative or processor staff, veterinarians, or other industry professionals.

About the winners:

  • Bar E Dairy is located in Kingsburg, CA, and is a member of Land O’Lakes, Inc. Bar E Dairy received the 2025 FARM Excellence Award in Animal Care & Antibiotic Stewardship for its commitment to exceptional animal welfare and judicious use of antibiotics through on-farm technology and innovation.
  • Five Star Dairy Farm LLC is located in Alma, WI, and is a member of Associated Milk Producers Inc. Five Star Dairy earned the 2025 FARM Excellence Award in Environmental Stewardship for its use of conservation practices to promote and maintain the land, water and wildlife in its community.
  • Glezen Farms, LLC is located in Lisle, NY, and is a member of Maola Local Dairies. Glezen Farms secured the 2025 FARM Excellence Award in Workforce Development for its dedication to fostering a safe, informed and responsible workforce through training and resource investment.
  • Lisa Ford is based in Auburn, NY, and is a FARM Program evaluator for Cayuga Marketing. Lisa took home the 2025 FARM Evaluator Excellence Award for her devotion to serving Cayuga members through education, leadership and advocacy.

Ellsworth Wins Top Prize at NMPF Dairy Contest; Lanco Pennland Takes Reserve

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

A Habanero Ghost Jack from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery took the top prize in NMPF’s annual cheese and dairy products competition, while Lanco Pennland took the overall Reserve Chairman’s award with its Sweet Cheddar, victories celebrated at the Joint Annual Meeting cheese reception Nov. 12.

Judges noted the high quality of the jack cheese combined with the delicate balance of flavor with the habanero and ghost peppers in giving its top award to Ellsworth for its cheese produced by Team Menomonie of Menomonie, WI. The Sweet Cheddar, produced in Hancock, MD by the team of “Kylie and Ben,” was one of several awards won by Lanco Pennland, which as a new member participated in its first NMPF cheese contest this year.

The annual dairy product contest, commonly called “the cheese contest,” offers NMPF members an opportunity to showcase the top-quality products. Butter was added to the contest in 2024, and yogurt in 2022. Fourteen NMPF cooperative members submitted 240 entries and more than 3,000 pounds of dairy products for this year’s contest.

Contest judges included Allison Reynolds from USDA, Timothy Meyers, College of DuPage, Gina Mode, Center for Dairy Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Luis A. Jimenez-Maroto, also with the Center for Dairy Research.

The top prizes, the Chairman’s Award and the Reserve Chairman’s, are decided by judges’ consensus.

In other awards, the best Italian also went to Lanco Pennland for its provolone. The best cottage cheese was awarded to Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. for its Regular, small curd cottage cheese produced in Carbondale, IL by their Carbondale team. The best butter went to Agri-Mark, Inc. for its Salted 83 butterfat Euro Style Butter made in West Springfield, MA and best yogurt went to Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. for its vanilla yogurt made in Wichita, KS by its Wichita Culture Team.

A full list of winners is here.