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U.S. Dairy Statements on USTR 2022 Trade Policy Agenda

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

In response to the U.S. Trade Representative’s release of the 2022 Trade Policy Agenda today, USDEC and NMPF released the following statements.

Jim Mulhern, National Milk Producers Federation president & CEO:

U.S. trade policy is a three-legged stool. USTR’s 2022 Trade Policy Agenda prioritizes two important legs: enforceable commitments from our trading partners and forward-leaning trade strategies to uproot barriers to U.S. products. Yet comprehensive trade agreements – the most powerful weapon in our trade arsenal – remain missing from this forecast. We are thankful for the exceptional dedication of USTR in representing American interests and look forward to partnering with them on the areas outlined in today’s Trade Policy Agenda including the continued focus on ensuring Canada abides by its U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement commitments. To most effectively fight for American dairy farmers, manufacturers and workers, however, we must build on those efforts by using the full suite of trade policy tools to tackle market access barriers to American-made products.

Krysta Harden, U.S. Dairy Export Council president & CEO:

Last year dairy exports reached a record $7.75 billion – sales that support dairy farming and manufacturing jobs all across America. We thank the Administration for its efforts to help U.S. agriculture. Yet to remain competitive as other countries pull ahead with trade agreements, we cannot forget the pursuit of them ourselves. Comprehensive free trade agreements are a cornerstone of trade policy for U.S. exporters and must not be left on the cutting room floor in 2022. Today, milk from one in six trucks leaving American dairy farms ends up in products and ingredients sold overseas – largely as a result of such free trade agreements. We look forward to working closely with the Administration on the outlined Trade Policy Agenda and believe additional trade negotiations would strengthen it further.

NMPF’s Bjerga on How DMC Fights Inflation

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga explains how the Dairy Margin Coverage Program helps protect farmers against rising feed-cost inflation by factoring in higher expenses even as milk prices reach records. Bjerga also talks about the potential market effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and spells his last name for listeners in an interview with WEKZ radio, Janesville, Wisconsin.

NMPF Website Update Offers Enhanced Member Resources

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF today announced important updates to its website, nmpf.org, designed to offer more information to dairy farmers and their cooperatives as well as an easier-to-navigate interface.

Updates to the website include an improved menu navigation, expansion of key issue areas and a streamlined sign-up for users seeking to stay up to date with the latest news from NMPF. Making this information more readily available for members serves NMPF’s mission and makes nmpf.org even more essential to the dairy community, said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern.

“Rich member resources and an easy-to-understand website are important parts of our service to our member cooperatives and everyone with an interest in dairy,” said Mulhern. “We strive to continue to be the one-stop-shop for policy information important to the dairy community.”

NMPF’s website is only one of many offerings available for the dairy community to learn more about the organization’s advocacy and service for its members. For more information and to sign up for NMPF publications, visit www.nmpf.org/subscribe.

Inflation is Hot. Dairy Stays Cooler.

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

It will come as no surprise to anyone reading this that inflation’s eating away at pocketbooks. The most recent Consumer Price Index is reporting the fastest retail price increases in costs in 40 years, with a hot economy and tight supply chains pushing up everything from cars to coffee.

And when consumers (and media outlets) focus their frustration, it tends to be on the prices that are most widely noticed. Gasoline’s the best example – what other product routinely posts its price on big signs next to highways? A gallon of milk is another one – when you’re in 94 percent of households, you can safely assume that a big part of the consuming public knows exactly what milk costs – and notices when it rises.

But before you pass unfair judgment on a jug of liquid goodness, a chart:

This is the most recent year-over-year Consumer Price Index covering overall inflation, food and beverage inflation, and dairy categories. A gallon of whole milk (the most popular variety in a jug) is going up, but it’s in line with other foods and beverages and lower than overall inflation. Subcategories fare even better. Cheese costs to consumers have barely budged. Ice cream remains an affordable (and relative to other categories, becoming even more so) treat. And yogurt, butter, et. al remain a compelling choice of affordable, high-quality nutrition for households.

So what’s going on with the inflation gap? A few things. Dairy supply chains tend to be more local and predominantly domestic, meaning some factors driving price gains in imported goods don’t apply. Dairy farmers have also done a great job of keeping markets adequately supplied, even in a year of record dairy export sales.

But whatever the reasons — if you’re frustrated with your grocery bill, dairy’s a place to find value. Dairy farmers are doing their part in keeping food prices under control. So much so, in fact, it might be worth slowing down a little bit the next time you’re pushing your cart past the dairy case. You might just want to take advantage of the opportunity dairy provides to nourish your family, without emptying your wallet. That’s not to be taken for granted these days.

NMPF Statement on Califf FDA Confirmation

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

Statement from NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern on the confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf as FDA Commissioner:

“We congratulate Dr. Robert Califf on his confirmation as FDA Commissioner. We are cheering for his success at a particularly challenging time, given the persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need to address the opioids crisis and other public health issues. We are heartened that, in addition to these concerns, he has also cited addressing the proliferation of plant-based products mislabeled as dairy a ‘priority’ issue under his leadership.

“Nutritional confusion over the products is real, with meaningful public health implications, and the Biden Administration has promised guidance by mid-year. We look forward to working with Dr. Califf as he resolves this long-standing, and growing, concern.”

 

NMPF’s Galen on the Need for DMC Signup

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

Chris Galen, NMPF’s senior vice president for member services and strategic initiatives, talks with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters about the recent extension in signup and why all dairy producers benefit from the program. USDA last week announced an extension of signup for the program until March 25.

“Climate-smart” Farming is Efficient Farming, Medeiros Says

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

“Climate-smart” is becoming an agriculture buzzword. USDA last week unveiled $1 billion in pilot projects for lower-carbon farming practices. And just days earlier in Congress, a House Agriculture subcommittee heard testimony from livestock producers on how they’re working toward sustainability solutions. Melvin Medeiros — a Laton, CA dairy farmer, member of NMPF’s Executive Committee and Chairman of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)’s Western Area Council — represented dairy producers.

Medeiros, who is profiled in the latest Farmer Focus from NMPF and the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, takes a wide range of approaches to sustainability. Tweaks to farming practices, new technologies, effective use of data-driven management – all add up to a bright future for climate-smart dairies, said Medeiros.

“Trying to envision what a dairy farm could look like in 2050, and where technology is going today, and the speed it’s going at — every tractor on the farm, every piece of machinery could be run by electricity. We’ll be supplying that energy either through solar, or methane, and dairy farms could be a net exporter of energy. That’s where I see it going, and that’s a positive thing.”

For more of the Medeiros story and profiles of innovative dairy-farm families, visit NMPF’s Sharing Our Story page.

Read Our Latest Farmer Focus

 

NMPF’s Bjerga on WOTUS Efforts

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses NMPF’s leadership in ensuring dairy voices are heard in proposed revision to Waters of the U.S. regulations on RFD-Radio, hosted by the Illinois Farm Bureau. NMPF submitted comments to EPA on Monday along with the American Farm Bureau Federation and other organizations expressing concern with the pace of Biden Administration revisions, asking for clear regulatory language and policies that respect legal precedent and the Clean Water Act.