Uncategorized

NMPF Pushes for Vaccine as USDA Unveils Bird Flu Plan Dairy Cattle

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

USDA’s announcement Feb. 26 of an additional billion dollars to combat H5N1 bird flu was welcomed in the dairy and poultry communities, as NMPF and its counterparts at the International Dairy Foods Association commended USDA support for vaccines as part of its strategy to eradicate the virus.

“Dairy farmers and cooperatives appreciate USDA’s leadership in supporting American agriculture and safeguarding animal health as it deals with what soon will be a second year of H5N1 bird flu disruptions in dairy cattle. Dairy farmers and all of agriculture takes biosecurity seriously, and we thank USDA and the Trump Administration for actions that will further those efforts,” NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud said in a statement released jointly with IDFA shortly after USDA’s announcement.

“We support the department’s initiatives to advance vaccine development and deployment that will help control, and ultimately eliminate, the virus in dairy cattle,” he continued. “We also want to remind consumers that, even as dairy farmers are working with veterinarians and officials at all levels of government to eliminate this animal health threat, milk for consumers remains safe to drink because of the effectiveness of pasteurization.”

Groups representing wide swaths of American agriculture have been collaborating as avian influenza continues to destroy poultry flocks and infect and evolve in dairy cattle across the United States, with the leading dairy, turkey, and egg laying associations urging USDA and its federal partners to support development of safe and effective H5Nx vaccinations for dairy cows, turkeys, and egg-laying hens.

The leaders of NMPF, IDFA, United Egg Producers and National Turkey Federation in a Feb. 14 letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins called attention to the urgency of the situation and requested to meet share more with the secretary.

“If this virus continues to circulate among dairy herds, turkey and egg layer operations, wild mammals, wild birds, and people working closely with birds and dairy cows, it will remain a significant and imposing threat to our nation’s food security and, therefore, our national security,” the organizations say in their letter. The letter also highlights the importance of working with international trade partners to ensure “policies reflect the new realities of a world that is constantly combating H5Nx.”

The letter from NMPF and other partners was delivered the same day Zoetis announced that the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics issued the company a conditional license for its Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus, which is labeled for use in chickens. The broiler industry has come out against vaccines to date because of possible effects on trade.

NMPF Board Member Advocates for Dairy Priorities at Senate Hearing

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Sixth-generation Vermont dairy farmer and NMPF Board Member Harold Howrigan urged the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee to swiftly advance a five-year farm bill that renews the Dairy Margin Coverage program while also addressing other major dairy issues.

Howrigan, a board member of Dairy Farmers of America, a Kansas City, KS-based NMPF member cooperative, testified on NMPF’s behalf at a hearing held last Wednesday.

Howrigan focused on the dairy industry’s ongoing work with USDA and the Food and Drug Administration to safeguard dairy herds and farm employees from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A H5N1. NMPF is pressing for swift advancement of effective H5N1 vaccines for dairy cattle, combined with a risk-based vaccine deployment strategy which mitigates trading partner concerns.

“We appreciate USDA’s work to accelerate vaccine development and urge that a vaccine be made available as soon as possible,” Howrigan said.

Howrigan also touted the revamped dairy safety net authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill and strengthened by subsequent legislative and administrative actions.

“The Dairy Margin Coverage program has served farmers well during difficult times. Since it was implemented six years ago, my farm has consistently purchased the maximum $9.50 coverage,” he said.

Howrigan called labor and trade issues essential priorities for dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own, urging Congress to pass long-overdue immigration legislation that meets dairy’s unique labor needs and to work with the administration to seek new market access worldwide.

“Failing to act risks damaging the vitality of our entire sector,” he said.

Finally, Howrigan urged the committee to pass the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, spearheaded by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Sen. Peter Welch, D-VT. As he reminded members at the hearing, “Dairy is a nutrition powerhouse but continues to be under consumed by most Americans.”

NMPF’s Bjerga Reviews Milk Consumption Trends

Posted on by Chris Galen

NMPF’s executive vice president Alan Bjerga explains for listeners of Dairy Radio Now how real milk is fighting back against plant-based imitators, with the latest government data demonstrating that milk demand is rising, while fake “milks” are losing market share. Meanwhile, whole milk in particular is in greater demand, as NMPF fights to return it to the school lunch program.

NMPF’s Statement on Jamieson Greer’s Confirmation as U.S. Trade Representative

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

From Gregg Doud, President and CEO of NMPF:

“On behalf of the U.S. dairy industry, congratulations to Jamieson Greer on his confirmation as U.S. Trade Representative.

Exports play an indispensable role in supporting America’s dairy farmers and workers across the country. As I know first-hand from my prior work with him at USTR, Ambassador Greer will be a strong advocate for American farmers and American-made products. His talents as a trade lawyer are exceptional. We are eager to work with him and his team to secure opportunities for U.S. dairy producers to compete on a level global playing field and grow export markets.”

NMPF Board Member Advocates for H5N1 Vaccine, Dairy Priorities at Senate Hearing

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Vermont dairy farmer Harold Howrigan, a member of the NMPF Board of Directors, urged the Senate Agriculture Committee to swiftly advance a five-year farm bill that renews the Dairy Margin Coverage program. He also addressed other major dairy issues, including the need for effective H5N1 vaccines for dairy cattle.  

Howrigan, a sixth-generation farmer who also serves on the board of NMPF member cooperative Dairy Farmers of America, testified on NMPF’s behalf at a hearing held today. 

Howrigan in his testimony focused on the dairy industry’s ongoing work with USDA and the Food and Drug Administration to safeguard dairy herds and farm employees from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A H5N1, a.k.a bird flu. NMPF is pressing for swift advancement of effective H5N1 vaccines for dairy cattle as part of a risk-based vaccine deployment strategy that mitigates trading partner concerns.  

“We appreciate USDA’s work to accelerate vaccine development and urge that a vaccine be made available as soon as possible,” Howrigan said. 

Howrigan also touted the revamped dairy safety net authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill and strengthened by subsequent legislative and administrative actions. “The Dairy Margin Coverage program has served farmers well during difficult times. Since it was implemented six years ago, my farm has consistently purchased the maximum $9.50 coverage,” he said. 

Howrigan also emphasized how important labor and trade issues are to dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own. He urged Congress to pass long-overdue immigration legislation that meets dairy’s unique labor needs and to work with the administration to seek new market access worldwide. “Failing to act risks damaging the vitality of our entire sector,” Howrigan said. 

Finally, Howrigan urged the committee to pass the bipartisan Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, spearheaded by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Sen. Peter Welch, D-VT.  “Dairy is a nutrition powerhouse, but continues to be under consumed by most Americans,” he said. 

Dairy Groups Applaud Administration Vaccine Support, Thank USDA for Plan

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Leaders from the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) released the following statements today in response to the Trump Administration’s updated response plan for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that is affecting our nation’s dairy herds.

NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud said the following: “Dairy farmers and cooperatives appreciate USDA’s leadership in supporting American agriculture and safeguarding animal health as it deals with what soon will be a second year of H5N1 bird flu disruptions in dairy cattle. Dairy farmers and all of agriculture takes biosecurity seriously, and we thank USDA and the Trump Administration for actions that will further those efforts.

“We support the department’s initiatives to advance vaccine development and deployment that will help control, and ultimately eliminate, the virus in dairy cattle. And we also want to remind consumers that, even as dairy farmers are working with veterinarians and officials at all levels of government to eliminate this animal health threat, milk for consumers remains safe to drink because of the effectiveness of pasteurization.”

IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., said the following: “The International Dairy Foods Association is grateful to Agriculture Secretary Rollins for investing up to $100 million in new and ongoing research into animal vaccinations and therapeutic tools to manage highly pathogenic avian influenza in our nation’s dairy herds and commercial poultry flocks. We continue to urge USDA and its federal partners to act quickly to develop and approve the use of safe, effective bovine vaccines to guard against current and future strains of avian influenza affecting U.S. dairy. It is essential that the federal government work with our industry to ensure a vaccination strategy is feasible and cost-effective for farmers while working with international trading partners to assure the use of vaccines does not limit or disrupt U.S. agricultural exports.”

 

NMPF’s Doud Urges More Dairy Trade Opportunities Before Subcommittee

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), told the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee today that expanding market access and enforcing existing trade agreements to America’s dairy producers, workers and exporters is of paramount importance.

“To keep up with our competitors from Europe and New Zealand, U.S. dairy exporters need new trade deals that cut tariffs and tackle nontariff trade barriers,” Doud said in his written testimony. “Whether the U.S. government prioritizes the enforcement the trade agreements it has negotiated and addresses trade barriers targeting U.S. exports will determine whether American farmers and workers will actually benefit from the market access that has and will be promised.”

The U.S. dairy industry last year exported close to $8.3 billion in dairy products overseas, supporting thousands of jobs across the country, despite competing against global counterparts who benefit from more recent and expansive trade agreements. Doud highlighted the critical role of existing U.S. trade agreements and called on Congress and the Trump Administration to pursue and enforce trade policies that empower the U.S dairy industry to grow its business internationally.

Doud also detailed specific agreements for the U.S. government to prioritize greater enforcement, including:

  • Fixing the United States’ deeply imbalanced agricultural trade relationship with the European Union.
  • Ensuring Canada holds up its end of the bargain on dairy in USMCA by fixing both the export issues into Canada and the excessive offloading of artificially low-price Canadian dairy protein into the U.S. and global markets.
  • Following through with China on increasing its purchases of U.S. dairy products, ensuring timely facility listing updates, and providing protection for common names.
  • Resolving India’s longstanding high tariffs and unscientific certification requirements.

“Our competitors are not slowing down,” Doud said. “They are targeting highly valuable and important dairy markets, with the backing of their governments’ proactive trade agendas. We are hopeful that the U.S. government will take this as a challenge to stand up for U.S. dairy and U.S. agriculture. Our farmers deserve a level playing field and are counting on their government to deliver.”

Milk-Drinking is Having a Moment

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The good news keeps coming for fluid milk.

According to year-end USDA data, fluid milk consumption, in a slow decline for the past five decades, increased in 2024. The 0.6% increase to 42.98 billion pounds is the first year-over-year gain since 2009. And unlike that year, it didn’t happen because low prices and a bad dairy economy prompted grocery stores to practically give it away. Milk prices are relatively high these days, and people are drinking more milk because… well, because they want to.

And the story isn’t just that they’re drinking more milk. It’s also about why they’re drinking milk, as well as what kind of milk they’re drinking.

Source: USDA. Note: Whole milk total includes flavored varieties. Flavored Reduced-Fat includes 2%, 1% and skim. Other Milk includes buttermilk. All categories include both conventional and organic milk.

Driving much consumer interest in real milk consumption is the awareness that it’s a protein powerhouse. And that’s only part of the unique package of essential nutrients milk has to offer that leaves over-engineered, nutritionally inferior plant-based substitutes in the dust. (Not to mention their many weird ingredients.)

Fluid milk’s gains are built on whole milk, also known as “the milk that tastes most like milk.” Not to begrudge lower-fat varieties — dairy farmers support whatever milk you choose, as long as it’s actual milk and not one of the misnamed beverages — but whole milk’s popularity shows just how intrinsically tasty dairy is, as well as how much more popular milk could be if it, say, were offered on a school lunch menu to children who drink it at home.

The increase also accentuates the lie of the plant-based imposters, which fell in sales for the third straight year. After years of their misinformation, painting their gains as inevitable, milk isn’t just getting back its market share — it’s adding to its already overwhelming preference in the marketplace. And no amount of over-processing of nut-of-the-moment re-engineering is going to change that.

And with that, it’s time for government policy to match consumer reality. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (which you can support here) would bring whole and 2% back to schools, giving schoolkids access to the same popular, healthy varieties they drink at home. And FDA’s enforcement of its own rules on milk’s Standard of Identity (or congressional passage of the Dairy PRIDE Act), would do a lot to clear up consumer confusion over nutrition in the marketplace.

Milk has a lot of momentum heading into the year — which, really, just puts it in the same position as the rest of dairy, the popularity of which remains the highest it’s been since the 1950s. So really — literally — raise a glass to this today. Because the number of glasses being raised is only growing.

 

Nevada Variant shows H5N1 testing at work

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

By Dr. Jamie Jonker, Chief Science Officer, National Milk Producers Federation

Highly pathogenic avian influenza. H5N1. Bird flu. Regardless of what you may call it, this virus has posed significant challenges to dairy farmers over the past year.

Since the first confirmed case of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle in Texas last March 25, as of February 7, there have been 959 confirmed dairy herds across 16 states. On February 5, USDA announced a new variant of H5N1 in a herd in Nevada. That made one thing even clearer than before: As the virus evolves, so too must we.

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has worked closely with federal and state partners, along with industry partners, to share updates and guidance. National Dairy FARM Biosecurity Program resources have provided farms with biosecurity plan templates and educational materials on the best management practices to prevent disease introduction and spread. NMPF also secured grant funding from the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program to expand the FARM Biosecurity Program and help even more producers and state officials to be prepared in an infectious disease outbreak.

NMPF also participates in weekly and daily stand-up calls with various working groups to help shape policies from the Food and Drug Administration and USDA regarding H5N1 in dairy cattle and dairy products. In December, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service announced its National Milk Testing Strategy, a surveillance effort aimed at better tracking herd status in states across the country. Testing under the National Milk Testing Strategy began in six states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. More states joined in the month following the strategy’s launch, increasing the total to 40 states.

The National Milk Testing Strategy is what led the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories toward confirming the new variant in Nevada. This genotype, D1.1, is different from genotype B3.13, which had been found in dairy cows until now. USDA APHIS and the Nevada Department of Agriculture are conducting additional on-farm investigation and testing and gathering more epidemiological information to better understand the effects of the new genotype and to limit further disease spread.

Much about the H5N1 virus remains unknown — how it spreads, how it evolves, how it affects cows long-term, and what it all means for humans. While a new variant is concerning, its detection shows that the systems in place for testing and identifying the virus in dairy cows are working as intended. Continued dedication to information sharing among the scientific community, state and federal officials, and everyone in the dairy supply chain is the only way forward.

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on Feb. 13, 2025.