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Milk Variety Makes Healthy Kids

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The greater the variety of milk in schools, including whole, lower-fat and flavored varieties, the greater the benefits to students, dairy farmers are telling lawmakers as they meet them on Capitol Hill.

“I think it’s awesome that students and kids have a choice. Giving them more choices just gets more milk out there for them, and the benefits that it has, and the flavor that it has that kids enjoy,” said Lauren Schwartzbeck, a schoolteacher and dairy farmer who farms near Union Bridge, MD, and a member of Maola Local Dairies, in the latest episode of the Dairy Defined podcast, released today. “I think by giving them those choices and by providing that product to them, that can only do great things, not only just for our dairy industry, but for these kids as well.”

Schwartzbeck was joined by Prairie Farms Chairman and NMPF Executive Committee Member Frank Doll, whose dairy is near Greenville, IL, on the podcast. The two farmers discuss the benefits of adding whole milk to school meal menus as well as the value of flavored milks, which are a popular source of student nutrition. Doll also talks about some of dairy’s priorities as farmers descend on Washington next month for its annual fly-in.

To hear more Dairy Defined podcasts, you can find and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music under the podcast name “Dairy Defined.”

NMPF Statement on the Retirement of Michael Dykes

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud: 

“Michael Dykes has been an absolute workhorse for American agriculture. Dating from his childhood on a dairy farm through his decade of leadership at the International Dairy Foods Association, Michael’s accomplishments on behalf of the farmers of this country is a very long list. It has been an absolute honor to work with him on many issues over many years, and his dedication to the industry he serves has always been inspiring. Dairy farmers thank him for his leadership and wisdom, and we wish him the best in his next chapter.”

NMPF’s Bjerga on a New Generation Choosing Dairy

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

NMPF Executive Vice President Alan Bjerga discusses recent research showing trust in dairy is now higher in teenagers than in baby boomers, boding well for the industry’s future. “This is the sort of momentum that builds upon itself,” Bjerga said. Bjerga speaks in an interview with RFD-TV.

NMPF and USDEC Statement on House Passing the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council issued the following statement on the House passing the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA):

“CORCA is an important tool for our dairy producers to ensure that their products reach end customers safely and on time,” NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud said. “We appreciate Reps. Joyce, Lee, Valadao and Titus for leading this commonsense legislation to crack down on cargo break-ins that continue to affect U.S. dairy shippers. We look forward to working to move the bill forward in the Senate and into law.”

“U.S. dairy exporters rely upon a supply chain that is safe and reliable in order to reach customers around the world,” USDEC President & CEO Krysta Harden said. “Unfortunately, our dairy exports have been collateral damage as criminals break into shipping containers in search of high-value retail goods. The bipartisan legislation passed by the House is a critical step toward providing our dairy shippers and law enforcement the resources needed to better confront this issue. Thank you to Representatives Joyce, Lee, Valadao and Titus for championing this important effort.”

The Kids are All Right — They Trust Dairy

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Consumers continue to maintain high levels of trust in dairy and its industry, according to the latest Consumer Perceptions Tracker from Dairy Management Inc. The tracker, now in its third year, shows the percentage of consumers giving dairy its top two trust ratings (on a seven-point scale) rose to 36% in 2025, one tick up from the previous year.

That’s gratifying, but perhaps not that surprising. But want to see what’s driving it? Look at the overall percentage breakdown by age. Then, look at the teenagers:

The cohort that has the most trust in dairy is… teenagers, with 47% rating dairy a 6 or a 7 on the 7-point scale. While it’s true that “6-7” was a viral craze among the young folk in 2025 (which now is soooooo last year), the evolution toward greater trust among the young folk — those “hepcat whippersnappers,” those “totally rad hipsters” — probably goes deeper than that. Note the three-year trend:

From 33% in 2023, to 41% in 2024 to 47% in 2025. That’s a real move. And it shows a bright future for dairy.

Maybe it’s the cottage cheese craze. Maybe it’s the decline of the plant-based beverages that hoodwinked millennials. Maybe it’s the renaissance of whole milk. Maybe it’s good old-fashioned persuasion, brought to teenagers via their own media channels and supported by dairy farmers and their allies.

For whatever reasons, support for dairy no longer is something that is strongest among the elderly — teenagers have positively Boomer-level (actually, better) respect for what dairy farmers do. That’s where an industry wants to be. That’s where dairy is. To borrow from the pop culture of the Boomers the teens have surpassed, the Kids are Alright — true in 1966, true in 2026.

And the choice of a new generation.

USDA Clears Path for Whole Milk in Schools

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation today applauded USDA’s Final Rule, “Expanding Fluid Milk Options in Child Nutrition Programs,” which includes whole and 2% milk as options in the school breakfast, Special Milk and Child and Adult Care Food programs.

The rule is an important step in implementing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025 that was signed into law in January.

As the rule was developed, NMPF requested clarification from USDA that schools would have the option to provide whole and 2% milk for school breakfasts as well as school lunches; today’s rule meets that need and benefits schoolchildren by ensuring a full range of milk options at every school meal.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant step forward in delivering whole and 2% milk back into schools,” NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud said. “Offering whole and 2% milk in schools helps students meet recommended daily values for many essential nutrients. It’s logistically challenging for schools to offer this milk for lunches but not for other meals, which weakens the benefits that whole and 2% milk provide. Today’s rule provides much needed clarification so that schools can offer the same milk options during breakfast and lunch.”

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act gives schools the option of serving whole and 2% milk varieties — in addition to the 1%, fat-free, and flavored options already offered — in federally funded programs for the first time since federal rules in 2012 cut them.

“When the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act passed, NMPF pledged our fullest support to federal officials and school districts across the nation to help implement this important legislation,” Doud said. “We appreciate USDA’s swift, comprehensive efforts on implementation to ensure that schools have the information they need to make purchasing decisions and whole and reduced fat milk offerings return to school menus.”

The Final Rule takes effect in a month and is now open for public comment.

NMPF Hails USTR Report Highlighting Cheese Name Trade Barriers

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF welcomed the U.S. Trade Representative’s April 30 release of its 2026 Special 301 Report, which cites as a priority trade barrier the European Union’s abuse of intellectual property tools to monopolize common cheese names like “parmesan.”

The support for positions taken by NMPF, the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the Consortium for Common Food Names, is essential as the organizations work with the U.S. government to secure protections for American dairy producers’ right to use common food names in global markets.

The annual document that details pressing intellectual property issues facing U.S. exporters this year highlights the administration’s successful efforts over the past year to use reciprocal trade agreement negotiations to secure commitments to keep common names free to use for American producers. These new deals are critical for pushing back against the European Union’s protectionist geographical indication (GI) policies, which restrict widely recognized terms like “parmesan” and “feta” to specific European producers and effectively cut U.S. exporters out of key markets.

NMPF and USDEC filed comments in January supporting CCFN’s more detailed submission to USTR, which documented the breadth of markets where those rights are under threat and expressed gratitude for the administration’s prioritization of the issue. NMPF’s Shawna Morris also testified at the public hearing USTR held as part of its efforts to develop the report. All three organizations will complement USTR and U.S. government monitoring the reciprocal trade agreements and hold trading partners to their successful implementation.

Additionally, NMPF will continue to push for protections in every ongoing trade negotiation, including the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement Joint Review, to ensure that U.S. dairy exporters can ship their products to any market in the world, regardless of their common names.

NMPF Spotlights Stewardship Through Storytelling

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF and the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program spent April telling one connected story across multiple media channels: how America’s dairy farm families are true stewards, not just for Earth Day, but every day.

NMPF’s latest Farmer Focus, CEO’s Corner column, and Dairy Defined Podcast episode spotlighted the people and programs behind the progress.

In Farmer Focus, the Van Hofwegen family shared how data opens doors for future generations, using FARM Environmental Stewardship to track and measure the farm’s environmental footprint.

Paloma Dairy in Gila Bend, AZ, is a family-owned and operated United Dairymen of Arizona member-farm producing high-quality milk since its founding in 2006. It’s managed by Robert Sr. and his four sons: Allan, Robert Jr., Arie and Kyle.

The farm uses energy audits and data collected from FARM ES evaluations to shape capital investments and business strategies. “You know, we call ourselves dairymen, but it’s agribusiness — business in capital letters,” said Robert Van Hofwegen.

NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud’s monthly CEO’s Corner column touched on farmer stewardship, noting that much of what’s called “sustainability” is simply good business practices and efficiency.

“Public discussion about agriculture at times treats stewardship and profitability as parallel conversations — one is about social responsibility (whatever that may mean), while the other is about returns,” the column states.

“A dairy farmer’s reality is very different. On dairies, stewardship is a business strategy that improves efficiency, manages risk, and strengthens U.S. dairy’s competitiveness at home and abroad. Its success hinges upon being farmer‑led, incentive‑based, and grounded in economics rather than mandates.

“Efficiency has always been the foundation. To use a recent buzzword, do you know what “regenerative ag” is to me? It’s the stuff my dad has emphasized on the farm for the past 50 years, and its stuff dairy farmers do every day.”

Nicole Ayache, chief sustainability officer for NMPF, explained in April’s Dairy Defined podcast how the FARM Program puts farmers first. FARM provides a tool for farmers to track and measure their footprint, which they can use to make on-farm improvements. It also helps farmers access additional resources, such as grants, incentive programs, milk premiums and other revenue channels, and helps manage customer expectations while promoting the good story that happens on dairy farms daily.

Ayache, who leads the National Dairy FARM Program’s Environmental Stewardship initiative, noted how sound management of resources and a focus on efficiency has boosted dairy productivity and bottom lines, even as it reflects the dedication of the farmers themselves to serving consumers.

“A lot of stewardship is about efficiency” — but it’s also more than that, Ayache said. “Anyone who chats with farmers know that because you can hear every time you talk to them about their farm and their choices, you can hear their passion for the animals and the land and their care and the nutrition they provide to our country and the world.”

FARM Builds Trust, Sets Stage for Progress

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Dairy FARM Program advanced U.S. dairy priorities in animal care, workforce development and environmental stewardship by presenting in two sessions at the 2026 Dairy Sustainability Alliance Spring Meeting on April 29. The program also aided in a panel discussion on how FARM delivers value across the supply chain.

Dr. Meggan Hain presented in “Landscape Level Set: Care for Animals and Communities,” exploring how the dairy industry is driving progress in animal care, food safety and workforce development. The session highlighted key focus areas for the industry in 2026 and shared resources for organizations interested in improving these focus areas.

FARM hosted a second session, “Building Trust Across the Dairy Value Chain,” as it explored perspectives that showcase how FARM delivers value by supporting market access, managing reputational risk and strengthening trust in U.S. dairy customers and consumers. Panel participants included Agri-Mark dairy farmer Val Lavigne; Kristy Miron, who serves as a sustainability & animal care manager for Land O’Lakes Inc.; and Adam Wylie, director of global responsibility for Leprino Foods.

FARM’s Nicole Ayache spoke in an informational panel about evolving global expectations and what they could mean for U.S. dairy: “What Global Reporting Expectations Mean for U.S. Dairy.” The panel shared insights into the most recent developments in E.U. sustainability directives that influence how global customers approach such topics.

The meetings also provided an opportunity to speak with farmers and industry stakeholders on current challenges, emerging animal health trends and advancements in science and technology.

April NEXT-Assisted Export Sales Total 16 Million Pounds

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NEXT member cooperatives secured 58 contracts in April, adding 16 million pounds of product in NEXT-assisted sales in 2026. These products will go to customers in Asia, North America, Oceania, Middle East-North Africa, South America, Central America and the Caribbean and will be shipped from April through November 2026.

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.