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Dietary Guidelines Report Shows Encouraging Signs for Dairy

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee Scientific Report released Dec. 10 reaffirmed the importance of dairy products to nutrition, a positive sign for milk producers in what may be in the final guidelines due to be released this year.

The advisory committee continued its three-servings-a-day dairy recommendation included in the current guidelines and maintained dairy as a separate food group. It also noted the importance of lactose-free dairy as an equitable nutrition solution and acknowledged the wild nutritional inconsistencies of plant-based beverages, a recognition of reality that reflects both science and consumer sentiment.

“NMPF thanks the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for recognizing dairy’s important role in a healthy diet and its continued recommendation of three servings of dairy for Americans two years and older,” NMPF President & CEO said in a statement the day of the release.

“Throughout this process, the committee looked carefully at the nutrition dairy products provide,” Doud said in the statement. “The committee’s scientific review showed that reducing or eliminating dairy from the diet leads to undernourishment in key nutrients for millions of Americans.

“The review also made clear that expanding the food group to include additional plant-based alternative beverages outside of fortified soy is not supported by scientific evidence. Specifically, the committee noted “the direct substitution of plant-based milk alternatives for cow’s milk within the patterns may introduce unintended consequences for meeting other nutrient recommendations and may vary by product selected,” he said.

Despite the good news for dairy, the guidelines still did not accept recent science showing the nutritional benefits of full-fat milk and undervalued the nutritional benefit of low-fat flavored milk to populations that otherwise not might drink milk.

“We are disappointed that the committee only recommends consumption of unflavored milk, especially as they acknowledged that flavored milk contains beneficial nutrients and did not explicitly conclude any connection between flavored milk consumption and obesity risk,” Doud said.

“It is reassuring that the committee came to multiple conclusions supporting dairy that are backed by decades of scientific evidence. We encourage the agencies to look further into recent science supporting the benefits of whole milk in the diet,” he said.

NMPF will continue to advocate for all forms of milk as the federal government crafts a final version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

DMC Margin Drops Again – to Third Highest Ever

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The monthly margin under the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program lost $0.88/cwt from a month before, yet, at $14.29/cwt, still came in as the third highest since margin protection became the basic safety net program for dairy in 2015.

The November U.S. average all-milk price dropped by $1/cwt from October to $24.20/cwt, while the DMC feed cost formula declined by $0.12/cwt. A lower soybean meal price more than offset a higher corn price; the premium alfalfa hay price was little changed.

The end of December dairy and grain futures indicated that the DMC margin would average around $12.50/cwt for all of calendar year 2025, which would be $0.60/cwt higher than the 2024 annual average and well above the trigger under which payments begin.

Year-End Legislation Preserves Dairy Safety Net, Ensures Disaster Relief

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Following advocacy from NMPF and other farm stakeholders, Congress passed legislation Dec. 20 extending the 2018 farm bill through 2025 and providing relief to farmers who suffered losses from natural disasters in 2023 or 2024.

The extension continues the Dairy Margin Coverage safety net for the entirety of 2025. Consistent with the extension enacted in 2023, the 2019 partial production history update is part of the underlying DMC program and will remain so over the long term. In addition, those producers that initially signed up in 2019 using the five-year “lock in” option will continue to receive a 25 percent premium discount in 2025. Further, the onset of permanent law, which would trigger outdated government support known as the “dairy cliff,” is also averted through the end of next year.

The disaster assistance portion of the package provides the U.S. Department of Agriculture with $30.78 billion to offer relief to producers who endured losses, including for milk, in 2023 and 2024 on account of a wide variety of natural disasters, including droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, and freezes. Within this larger total, the bill sets aside $2 billion for assistance to livestock producers for losses related to drought, wildfires, and floods.

NMPF is grateful to Rep. David Valadao, R-CA, for leading efforts to enact the overall package and for securing the inclusion of floods on account of damages California dairy farmers endured last year due to livestock relocation, shelter-in-place, and feed crop losses. The bill also allows USDA to provide some support in the form of block grants to states, a priority for southeastern producers recently impacted by devastating hurricanes.

With this package signed into law, NMPF looks forward to working with the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to complete a new farm bill in 2025 that makes needed policy improvements and provides dairy farmers and their cooperatives long-term certainty for the years ahead.

New Year, New Challenges – New Opportunities for Dairy

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

A new year, a new administration, a new Congress, and new challenges. Regardless of what does or doesn’t happen this year, buckle up. And welcome to 2025.

The watchword of the year is change. Voters demanded it, and members of Congress and the new administration are vowing to deliver. At the same time, what those changes may be, how they occur, and which ones happen when, remain very open questions. Until new leaders in federal agencies are in place, and until congressional coalitions begin to coalesce, where dairy’s priorities fit into the broader picture remains to be seen – and as last month’s column stated, sorting out what’s real and what isn’t, and acting accordingly, is itself a critical area of emphasis in 2025.

But we do know this: We at NMPF are ready to pursue and seize the opportunities for better farm policy that will undoubtedly present themselves over the course of the next year. Here’s why:

  • We’re coming off a great 2024. Our successful efforts at building what became the foundation of a USDA Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization plan that farmers can get behind; our efforts to maintain dairy’s prominence in the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans as reflected in its recent scientific report; and our leadership in developing export markets through collaboration with the U.S. Dairy Export Council and others, all create the muscle memory and momentum that carries us into this year with credibility and confidence.
  • We have a great team. In each of our key areas of emphasis – government relations and regulatory affairs, economics and trade – we have seasoned, well-connected staff working hard to understand the new policy environment and make it work for dairy farmers and their cooperatives. As Washington transitions, we are making the phone calls and meeting the key players as they emerge, ensuring our interests are on their minds.
  • We speak with a consistent voice. As we saw throughout FMMO, the power of farmer unity is not to be underestimated. By representing the cooperatives that handle the vast majority of U.S. milk, we play key roles in nourishing Americans and the world while boosting rural economies. That’s our voice – and it’s a voice to be reckoned with that’s recognized in policy circles.
  • We are supported by the collective strength of our members and the broader dairy industry. NMPF takes pride in being a leader, but we also know we are far from alone in our efforts. Our colleagues among cooperatives and our friends in the broader dairy and agricultural communities create momentum and quality teamwork as we seek our goals together. It’s like returning a kickoff in football – a team that has the ball, knows its assignments and makes the right blocks can make it a long way downfield. And we do, and we will.

That doesn’t mean we’ll always be on offense. When proposals come up that create problems for dairy farmers and their cooperatives, we will respond effectively on behalf of our members. Within the new Washington are many perspectives, and we will work to support the outcomes that best allow dairy to thrive. We are confident of positive change – we also know that much of it won’t come easily.

But above all, we’re ready. Ready to embark on a new path in an era that has its risks and pitfalls, but that also holds exciting opportunities. Let’s work together, and we’ll make good things happen for dairy.

Gregg Doud

President & CEO, NMPF

 

Dairy Poised for an Action-Packed 2025

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

By Paul Bleiberg, Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, National Milk Producers Federation

2024 was a tumultuous year on the political front, and 2025 promises to be just as eventful on the policy front.

The 2024 election resulted in President-elect Donald Trump winning a second term while Republicans simultaneously won control of the U.S. Senate and held their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. With a governing trifecta in hand next year, Republicans are poised to put their stamp on many significant issues, several of which have direct implications for dairy farmers.

Picking up where this year left off, a new farm bill remains on the congressional to-do list. Lawmakers enacted a one-year extension before adjourning for the year, paving the way for House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson of Pennsylvania and incoming Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman of Arkansas to lead their respective panels in drafting long-term farm policy legislation next year.

This year’s House and Senate farm bill frameworks included numerous dairy priorities, such as requiring USDA to conduct mandatory manufacturing cost surveys every two years, prioritizing common food name protection in trade discussions, and allowing schools to serve nutrient-dense whole milk. This year’s extension ensures that the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program continues without disruption as the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) advocates for a new five-year farm bill next year that meets dairy’s needs.

Republicans will also turn their attention to extending the expiring provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, one of President-elect Trump’s signature first-term accomplishments. NMPF will urge Congress to continue several pieces of the 2017 law, including the Section 199A domestic manufacturing tax deduction that allows agricultural cooperatives to pass the proceeds directly back to their farmer-owners. Congress is likely to complete this process using the tool known as budget reconciliation, which allows for the consideration of certain tax and spending legislation not subject to the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster requirement.

Finally, Congress will need to address an overall government funding deadline in early 2025. This year’s draft House and Senate agriculture funding bills included several NMPF-backed provisions, including House language to reverse the reduction in the maximum monthly milk allotment in USDA’s final foods package rule for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Senate language mirroring the Innovative FEED Act to allow the Food and Drug Administration to review animal feed additives in a more efficient manner. While a short-term funding extension will require the new Congress to complete the full-year bills, the bills drafted this year will likely serve as the starting point for final negotiations next year.

Beyond these priorities, Congress and the incoming Trump Administration are likely to address major issues ranging from environmental policy to labor to trade. At each step of the way, NMPF will advocate for dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own as they seek to provide the U.S. and the world with wholesome, nutritious, and sustainably-produced milk and dairy products.

lve harmful barriers to trade, and promote the U.S. dairy industry as the global supplier of choice.

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on Dec. 26, 2024.

Vitaliano’s Valedictory: Economist Shares Thoughts on Dairy’s Evolution

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

After nearly four decades as an economist at NMPF, Dr. Peter Vitaliano is retiring at the end of the year. He predicts a bright future for the industry.

“The U.S. dairy industry produces a huge variety of great products, for which consumption is continuing to grow,” Vitaliano said in a Dairy Defined Podcast. “It has very progressive farms and farmers, and great leadership amongst our organizations, and great organizations. That has been the case when I came, it’s the case now, and it’s going to be the case for many years in the future.”

Vitaliano, NMPF’s longtime chief economist, reflects on the evolution of policy challenges for the dairy industry in the podcast, explaining how shifts in the industry have created greater unity – and a more effective NMPF. For more of the Dairy Defined podcast, you can find and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify under the podcast name “Dairy Defined.”

Media outlets may use clips from the podcast on the condition of attribution to the National Milk Producers Federation.

NMPF’s Galen Reviews 2024 Highlights, Latest on Farm Bill Extension

Posted on by Chris Galen

NMPF’s senior vice president Chris Galen outlines for Dairy Radio Now listeners how Congress is wrapping together a farm bill extension with a government funding bill, just a few days before Christmas, and how NMPF will work with Congress on a new farm bill early in 2025.  He also summarizes highlights for dairy farmers from 2024, including strong margins and near-record levels of dairy consumption.

NMPF Statement on Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee Scientific Report

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

From NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud:

“NMPF thanks the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for recognizing dairy’s important role in a healthy diet and its continued recommendation of three servings of dairy for Americans two years and older.

“Throughout this process, the committee looked carefully at the nutrition dairy products provide. The committee’s scientific review showed that reducing or eliminating dairy from the diet leads to undernourishment in key nutrients for millions of Americans. The review also made clear that expanding the food group to include additional plant-based alternative beverages outside of fortified soy is not supported by scientific evidence. Specifically, the committee noted “the direct substitution of plant-based milk alternatives for cow’s milk within the patterns may introduce unintended consequences for meeting other nutrient recommendations and may vary by product selected.” This is especially important, as the dietary guidelines greatly affect the food options available to children through school meals and other nutrition programs.

“NMPF also thanks the committee for acknowledging that dairy is an equitable option that provides accessible and affordable sources of essential nutrients to everyone, and that lactose-free and lactose-reduced dairy foods can provide those same nutrients for people who may not be able to tolerate regular dairy.

“We are disappointed that the committee only recommends consumption of unflavored milk, especially as they acknowledged that flavored milk contains beneficial nutrients and did not explicitly conclude any connection between flavored milk consumption and obesity risk.

“It is reassuring that the committee came to multiple conclusions supporting dairy that are backed by decades of scientific evidence. We encourage the agencies to look further into recent science supporting the benefits of whole milk in the diet. The committee found evidence that substituting higher-fat dairy with lower-fat dairy showed no association with cardiovascular disease morbidity, and it also found evidence of positive benefits for growth and bone health specifically related to whole milk consumption by young children. We see these conclusions as positive steps. We will continue to advocate for consideration of full-fat dairy in the final dietary guidelines expected to be released next year.”

Driven by Cheese, Dairy Consumption Rises Again

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Propelled by record cheese use and gains in butter, cottage cheese and yogurt, U.S. per capita dairy consumption returned to 1950s levels last year, according to USDA data released just before Thanksgiving.

At 661 pounds per person, the amount of milk Americans consume is back to where it was in 2021, which in turn was on par with the year Buddy Holly died — at least in terms of dairy U.S. dairy consumption.

What’s driving the trend? Think cheese, which has doubled in per capita consumption over the past 50 years even as per capita fluid milk use has declined. Or look at butter, at its highest since the 1960s. And fermented dairy products are having a moment — cottage cheese consumption is at its highest in a decade, and yogurt is also rising.

The only disappointment? Rounding. If you drill more deeply into the numbers, 2023 didn’t quite match 2021, with consumption at 660.7 pounds, compared to 661.2 two years ago. But with positive signs in sales and the holidays ahead, there’s still a chance for Americans to push 2024 to new heights.

We can do this, America. Have your grocery carts at the ready, help a dairy farmer, and enjoy the perfect companion for your holiday cheer.

 

NMPF’s Bleiberg Assesses Agenda for Congressional Lame Duck Session

Posted on by Chris Galen

NMPF’s chief lobbyist Paul Bleiberg explains for listeners of Dairy Radio Now what Congress will focus on during the first few weeks of December in the congressional lame duck session that is following last month’s election.  Members of the House and Senate will have to address government spending for 2025, but are not expected to pass a new farm bill in 2024, instead preferring to extend current policy and work on a new version next year.

 

NMPF’s Bjerga Discusses Rising Dairy Consumption

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

https://www.rfdtv.com/keep-it-flowing-u-s-per-capita-dairy-consumption-returns-to-1950s-levels

NMPF Executive Vice President for Communications & Industry Relations Alan Bjerga discusses new USDA data showing that per-capita dairy consumption among Americans is back to 1950s levels, in an interview with RFD-TV. Robust holiday sales could push consumption to even higher levels. “We can do this, America,” Bjerga said.