LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – The National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) Board of Directors seated two new members this week at the organization’s 2012 annual meeting here in Orlando.

Donald De Jong from Dalhart, Texas was elected to represent Select Milk Producers, Inc., while Larry Webster from Buffalo, New York, was elected to represent Upstate Niagara Cooperative.

The eight officers currently serving NMPF were reelected to their existing positions. They include:

• Chairman Randy Mooney, from Rogersville, Missouri, representing Dairy Farmers of America;
• First Vice Chairman Ken Nobis, from St. Johns, Michigan, representing Michigan Milk Producers Association;
• Second Vice Chairman Cornell Kasbergen, from Tulare, California, representing Land O’ Lakes, Inc.;
• Third Vice Chairman Mike McCloskey, from Fair Oaks, Indiana, representing Select Milk Producers, Inc.;
• Treasurer Pete Kappelman, from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, representing Land O’ Lakes;
• Assistant Treasurer Adrian Boer, from Jerome, Idaho, representing Northwest Dairy Association;
• Secretary Dave Fuhrmann, from Baraboo, Wisconsin, representing Foremost Farms USA;
• Assistant Secretary Doug Nuttelman, from Stromsburg, Nebraska, representing Dairy Farmers of America.

In addition to the officer elections at this year’s meeting, NMPF recognized three outgoing directors for their service on the NMPF Board of Directors: Tom Croner, from Berlin, Pennsylvania, and Les Hardesty, from Greeley, Colorado, both representing Dairy Farmers of America, and Clyde Rutherford, Syracuse, New York, representing Dairylea Cooperative. NMPF also recognized four Honorary Directors, who provided exemplary service not only to NMPF, but also to the entire dairy industry: Lew Gardner from Galeton, Pennsylvania; along with Tom Croner, Les Hardesty, and Clyde Rutherford.

In other news at the NMPF annual meeting, a Parmesan cheese made by Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) was awarded the Grand Champion Cheese award at the 2012 NMPF cheese competition. The cheese, made in Hoven, South Dakota, received a score of 99.0 from the judges. The AMPI Parmesan was selected from among 176 entries to this year’s NMPF cheese contest – a record number of entries. A total of 3006 pounds of cheese was judged.

The 2012 NMPF Communicator of the Year award was presented to Amber DuMont Sheridan of Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association in Reston, Virginia. In addition to directing Maryland & Virginia’s communications, Sheridan also oversees its Young Cooperator program.

Members of NMPF’s new 2013 Young Cooperator (YC) Advisory Council met to elect their officers for the upcoming year. Kris and Carla Wardin, from St. Johns, Michigan, representing Michigan Milk Producers Association, were chosen to be the new YC Chaircouple. Nathan and Barbara Blesy, from Springville, New York, representing Upstate Niagara Cooperative, were elected YC Vice Chaircouple. David and Katherine Pyle, from New Columbia, Pennsylvania, representing Land O’Lakes, were elected Secretary Couple.

 

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 30 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – During the 2012 annual meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), held here in the Magic Kingdom this week, Chairman Randy Mooney and President & CEO Jerry Kozak addressed the NMPF membership and discussed the organization’s progress over the past year.

The joint presentation began with the impasse in Congress, where representatives failed to pass a new Farm Bill before the old law expired on Sept. 30. NMPF’s dairy policy reform package, initially known as Foundation for the Future, had come a long way before being introduced in Congress last fall as the Dairy Security Act (DSA).

“The DSA was included by the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee in the draft Farm Bill approved last spring,” Kozak explained. “Subsequently, the entire Senate approved a Farm Bill containing the DSA. Then, the House Agriculture Committee approved its own version of the Farm Bill earlier this summer.”

Despite this support, and NMPF’s success in defeating challenges to the DSA (like the Goodlatte amendment, which would have stripped the market stabilization plan from the program), the Farm Bill was not brought to a vote by the full House.

“The House of Representatives has punted on the entire Farm Bill,” Mooney said. “The House Ag Committee did its job and passed by a wide, bipartisan margin a Farm Bill back in July. There was enough time for the full House to act on the bill…but they didn’t.”

With the expiration of the old Farm Bill, NMPF has been increasing pressure on Congress and urging its member cooperatives and farmers to ask their representatives for a “Farm Bill Now” when Congress returns after the elections.

“If the question in Washington is how to reform government programs and make them more effective, we have an answer: pass the 2012 Farm Bill. By not acting on this measure, Congress actually increases federal spending next year,” Mooney stated.

NMPF’s leaders went on to discuss other priority issues that the organization had dealt with in the past year. Participation in the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program has continued to increase, but more farms, co-ops, and companies are still needed. The program recently launched a “See It, Stop It” campaign that encourages workers to share information about potentially problematic animal care practices with farm management.

Although there weren’t any new trade deals completed or signed in 2012, NMPF has been working with industry partners like the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the Consortium for Common Food Names to represent dairy farmer interests in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement and Geographic Indications. The voluntary, dairy farmer-funded Cooperatives Working Together program has helped export the equivalent of 2.2 billion pounds of milk, or 60% of the increase in 2012 milk production, to buyers overseas.

In March 2012, NMPF was given the opportunity to manage the REAL® Seal program. “The REAL® Seal gives us the opportunity…to distinguish between products made from real milk, and those that are either imported or not made from milk at all,” Kozak said. Although the symbol is already recognized by nine out of ten consumers and used by 360 food companies, NMPF’s leaders stressed that there is more work to be done to build additional awareness of how the icon can help sell dairy products.

The joint presentation concluded with Mooney and Kozak emphasizing the proactive attitude the organization assumed throughout the year, partly because “we face a future of reduced government support on the one hand, and more government intrusion on the other,” Mooney explained.

“The best way to deal with that future is being proactive, always doing the right things, and most importantly, taking care of our own,” Kozak added.

The full text from Mooney and Kozak’s joint speech is available on the NMPF website.

 

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 30 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

Additional Materials Available Online

ARLINGTON, VA – The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has released a revised version of its Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual for 2013. As an area of focus for the National Dairy FARM Program^TM, the manual can be found online.

The Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is a concise review of appropriate antibiotic use in dairy animals. The manual is a quick resource to review those antibiotics approved for dairy animals and can also be used as an educational tool for farm managers as they develop their on-farm best management practices necessary to avoid milk and meat residues.

Additions to the 2013 version include a section on avoiding potential residue violations from extra-label drug use in an unapproved class of cattle, cephalosporin extra-label use prohibitions, as well as an updated drug and test kit list. The 2013 manual includes a certificate of participation that can be signed by a producer and his/her veterinarian to demonstrate their commitment to the proper use of antibiotics.

“We know that there is increased attention to the use of medicines in livestock, and in order to maintain the ability to use those products, we have to demonstrate that we are using them properly,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF. “This newly-revised manual represents the ongoing commitment dairy farmers have to using antibiotics responsibly and prudently.”

The dairy industry is committed to producing safe, abundant, and affordable milk and dairy beef of the highest quality. Healthy animals help make for safe food and disease prevention is the key to keeping cows healthy, Kozak said.

The National Dairy FARM Program was created by NMPF to demonstrate and verify that U.S. milk producers are committed to providing the highest levels of quality assurance including animal care, residue prevention, and other on-farm practices.

The Residue Avoidance manual was sponsored by Charm Sciences, IDEXX, and Pfizer Animal Health. No check-off funds were used in the development and distribution of this manual.

For more information on the National Dairy FARM Program, contact Betsy Flores at (703) 243-6111 or log on to www.nationaldairyfarm.com.

 

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 30 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

ARLINGTON, VA – A report issued today about the National Dairy FARM Animal Care Program found that overall, its subscribers are doing a thorough job of adhering to its multi-faceted approach to comprehensive dairy animal well-being.

Voluntary, and open to all producers in the United States, Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) is a national set of guidelines designed to demonstrate dairy farmers’ commitment to outstanding animal care and a quality milk supply. Cooperatives, proprietary milk processors, and individual dairy producers are using the program to assure consumers that the food they purchase is produced with integrity.

Since enrollment began in September 2010, the FARM Animal Care Program has been implemented on dairy farms accounting for 41 percent of the nation’s milk supply. With continued expansion of enrollment, participation in the FARM program is anticipated to exceed 70 percent of the nation’s milk supply in 2013, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said today.

Participating producers are provided comprehensive training materials and undergo an on-farm evaluation conducted by a trained veterinarian, extension educator, co-op field staff member, or other FARM-trained professional. Evaluators then provide a status report and, if necessary, recommendations for on-farm improvement.

In June 2012, data collected from the more than 5,000 second-party evaluations made of the dairy operations enrolled in FARM program was reviewed and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of on-farm implementation. A summary of those results was made available today.

“While we’re seeing near nearly universal adoption of the best practices from the FARM animal care manual,” said Jamie Jonker, Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at NMPF, “some specific practices have not achieved the same level of adoption as others. This demonstrates the importance of continuous improvement and on-going education as advocated by the program.”

Jonker cited several examples of where adherence is greatest, as well as where improvements are needed:

• 99.2% of farm operators engage in dairy animal observations to identify any potential health issues;
• 99% of farm operators train personnel to handle and restrain calves with a minimum of stress to the animal;
• 95.5% of farm operators train personnel in proper methods to move non-ambulatory animals;

Meanwhile:

• 72.7% of farm operators have emergency plans to address animal care needs stemming from unique circumstances such as a natural disaster;
• 68% of farm operators apply antiseptic to the navels of calves after birth as a preventative health measure.

To protect the integrity and credibility of the program, the FARM program utilizes an independent third-party process to ensure that its practices are being appropriately adopted and the educational materials and methodologies used in training both farm operators and evaluators is sound and effective. Each year, a nationwide sample of dairy farms in the program is randomly selected for visits from third-party “verifiers” to assure (to a 95% confidence interval) that the observations recorded during the second-party evaluations are valid. Validus, an Iowa-based certified auditing company with more than 10 years of experience with farm animal care programs, is used to conduct the third-party verification process.

The initial third-party verification of the FARM program was conducted in 2011, with analysis of that process completed earlier this year. This analysis confirmed that effective implementation of the FARM program is occurring through producer education and on-farm evaluation. The objective third-party verification for 2012 is currently underway.

“This ‘check the checkers’ analysis compares the data collected from the second-party, on-farm evaluations with the third-party, on-farm verification data. This assures that the on-farm evaluations are being consistently conducted across all dairy farm participants,” Jonker added. “The findings of the third-party verification confirm the validity and integrity of the FARM program.”

 

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 30 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

Revamped Website to be Followed with New Product Descriptors

ARLINGTON, VA – As part of its efforts to revitalize one of the most recognized product symbols in the food industry, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) announced today that the REAL® Seal is undergoing a makeover. The first step in that process was taken Tuesday, with the launch of a revamped website: www.realseal.com.

The previous website existed primarily as a resource for dairy product manufacturers and marketers interested in putting the REAL® Seal on their packaging. The new website will contain more content to educate consumers about why they should look for the REAL® Seal on the foods they buy, while also continuing to provide information for those companies using the REAL® Seal to enhance their product marketing.

“Research has found that 93 percent of consumers know of the REAL® Seal, and that many people find it useful in making buying decisions,” said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF, the organization driving this effort.

Effective March 15, 2012, the management of the REAL® Seal program was transferred from the United Dairy Industry Association to NMPF. This change was the result of an agreement between the two organizations that the transfer was the best opportunity to place a renewed emphasis on highlighting the importance and value of American-made dairy foods.

“Imitation products made from vegetables and nuts, but packaged like real dairy products and often using dairy names, have proliferated in the last few years,” said Kozak. “For example, frozen desserts made out of soybeans are packaged the same as real ice cream made from cows’ milk, with pictures that make it look like real ice cream. The only way a consumer would know the product isn’t ice cream is by reading the ingredients label.”

The same is true for other processed foods made with imitation dairy products, noted Kozak.

“Currently, frozen pizza is essentially the only processed food that uses the REAL® Seal. We intend to expand the products eligible to use the REAL® Seal beyond that that category.”

To address expanded use of the REAL® Seal, the seal itself is in the process of being tailored to other applications. Terms like “Made With” real dairy, and “American Made,” along with specific dairy product names, will be stacked above and below the basic REAL® Seal.

“Our goal is to have a fully integrated program up and running early in 2013,” Kozak said. “We know dairy farmers are enthusiastic about the REAL® Seal, and we’re excited about the tremendous potential this has for expanding sales of REAL® dairy products made from U.S. dairy farmers’ milk.”

“Consumers continue to express an interest in food quality and integrity, through the choices they make at grocery stores and restaurants,” Kozak said. “Labeling is an integral part of creating and maintaining a dialogue with them.”

As a result of this change in management, “the program will now strive to educate new generations of dairy consumers about the significance of the REAL® Seal, revitalizing the brand and talking to them about the good taste, nutritional value, and wholesomeness associated with dairy foods and dairy food ingredients made from milk produced in the United States,” Kozak added.

 

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 30 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

ARLINGTON, VA – Just as in baseball, the best teams in dairy production track and use statistics to ensure their success. The best compilation of dairy statistics is now available in the latest edition of the National Milk Producers Federation’s Dairy Data Highlights.

Dairy Data Highlights is a collection of 53 tables and 19 graphs that provides state-by-state and national metrics on all aspects of milk production from the recent past through 2011. This includes cow numbers, feed costs, relative prices, the sales of milk and dairy products, the difference between farm and retail prices, and trends in dairy products production. The booklet also tracks export and import information. Dairy Data Highlights has been published annually by NMPF for more than 60 years.

Dairy Data Highlights is available to NMPF member cooperatives and associate members for a per-copy price of $7.50 for orders up to 10 copies, and $5 per copy for orders larger than 10. For non-members, the per-copy price is $10.00 up to 10 copies, and $7.50 each for more than 10.

To order copies of the booklet, complete the information below and email to kgibsonwhite@nmpf.org or fax to (703) 841-9328. Please print or type clearly.

Number of copies requested:

Name:

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City:

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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 30 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

From Jerry Kozak, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation

ARLINGTON, VA – “The video released on October 10, 2012 is deeply disturbing and depicts practices by individuals that are absolutely unacceptable. Idaho’s dairy farmers, and those across the rest of the country, do not countenance this type of treatment. The dairy industry takes claims about animal mistreatment very seriously. Any evidence of animal abuse should be taken promptly to the appropriate state and local authorities whose job it is to investigate those claims. An independent animal care review panel organized by the Center for Food Integrity confirmed that the practices seen in the video were unacceptable and abusive. Five employees in the incident have been fired by the dairy farm, and authorities in Idaho have investigated the incident charging several individuals with animal cruelty.

“On a national level, many farms have adopted the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program’s animal care standards. Those standards disavow malicious striking or dragging animals. Responsible animal stewardship is a good thing for people and cows, and the FARM program, developed by NMPF, is designed to promote the best practices in animal care that consumers have come to expect from the dairy sector.”

 

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance the well being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s 30 cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of more than 32,000 dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.

Third CWT Herd Retirement in Nine Months to Remove 87,000 Cows, 1.8 Billion Pounds of Milk; Second-Largest Ever

 

 

In response to the long-standing lack of U.S. compliance with its trucking obligations to Mexico under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Mexico has been legally levying tariffs on a variety of U.S. exports since March 2009. In August 2010, Mexico added a new retaliation list that included many U.S. cheeses.

At a meeting Thursday in Washington between the heads of states of both nations, an agreement was announced to put the U.S. on the path to resolving the cross-border trucking dispute.

NMPF and the U.S. Dairy Export Council said they are looking forward to a swift process by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to complete a final agreement. It is expected that DOT will issue a Federal Register with the proposed rules for a 30 day comments. Once the Department of Transportation reviews all of the comments, it must issue a final rule. This rule will be deemed the final agreement.

The Government of Mexico has announced that once a final agreement has been reached, Mexico will suspend its retaliatory tariffs on dairy products by 50 percent (if the retaliatory tariffs are 20%). After the final agreement, the tariff will be reduced by half to 10 percent and will suspend the remaining half when the first Mexican carrier is approved to cross the border.

 

To avoid a shutdown of the federal government, Congress passed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) this week that will allow the government to continue operating through March 18. Altogether, the short-term fix will reduce current spending levels by $4 billion by rolling back certain earmarks and eliminating a handful of programs, many of which were already targeted by President Obama in his fiscal year 2012 budget proposal. President Obama signed the temporary funding bill just prior to the current CR expiration on March 4. By passing the short extension only, the rhetoric and debate on Capitol Hill is expected to escalate in the coming weeks.

Prior to this week’s short-term extension debate, the House passed a measure last month to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year, which would have provided over $60 billion in savings. However, many of the provisions in the bill brought much controversy and political overtones, leaving little chance that the Democrat-controlled Senate will pass it.

Along with health care and food safety, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) quickly became a main target of the House GOP. Through the amendment process, EPA’s efforts on a multitude of issues concerning agriculture would be effectively stopped, including the agency’s actions in the Chesapeake Bay, their efforts in the State of Florida with numeric nutrient criteria, as well as the ongoing work to further regulate dust particles. Meanwhile, the House also voted on multiple amendments regarding biofuels. Amendments that would stop EPA from implementing E15 and halt federal funding from going to the development of certain ethanol infrastructure, successfully passed in the House.

NMPF Conducts National Grassroots Tour as Congress Prepares FFTF Legislation

 

New Consortium Seeks to Protect the International Right to Use Common Food Names