NMPF to Host Summer Foundation for the Future Meetings as Congressional Draft of Bill is Finalized
June 10, 2011
To help educate dairy producers about the benefits of Foundation for the Future (FFTF), NMPF has announced its Summer Grassroots Tour: 12 meetings in July and August that will bring together dairy producers and other key industry representatives to discuss the dairy policy reform programs proposed in Foundation for the Future.
Meanwhile, a legislative draft of those policies is about to be introduced for further congressional consideration. And, importantly, the initial review of that legislation by the Congressional Budget Office indicates that FFTF will save the government money in the future, compared to current dairy program spending.
“The U.S. dairy industry has called for dramatic changes in dairy policy, and Foundation for the Future answers that call,” says Jerry Kozak, NMPF President and CEO. “With Congress about to really begin sinking its teeth into dairy policy reform, it’s crucial that dairy producers also become more familiar with the many advantages of Foundation for the Future over the status quo. That’s why we have an aggressive outreach schedule this summer.”
The meetings are slated to take place throughout the United States between July 12 and August 22. Each three-hour meeting will feature an in-depth presentation, and question and answer session led by NMPF’s Kozak, along with other staff. Meeting locations include:
- Olympia, Wash., Red Lion Hotel – July 12
- Visalia, Calif., Holiday Inn – July 13
- Lubbock, Texas, Overton Hotel & Conference Center – July 18
- Alexandria, Minn., Holiday Inn – July 20
- Dubuque, Iowa, Grand River Center – July 21
- Lansing, Mich., Ramada Lansing Hotel & Conference Center – July 26
- Green Bay, Wis., Comfort Suites – July 27
- Stevens Point, Wis., Ramada Hotel – July 28
- Harrisburg, Pa., Holiday Inn Harrisburg – East – August 8
- Syracuse, N.Y., Holiday Inn Syracuse/Liverpool Airport Hotel – August 10
- Ocala, Fla., Hilton – August 12
- Nashville, Tenn., Embassy Suites Nashville Airport – August 22
Dairy producers, milk processors, and other key industry stakeholders are encouraged to attend. Visit www.futurefordairy.com for details on the meetings, email summermeetings@nmpf.org, or call NMPF at (703) 243-6111 for additional meeting and registration information. There are no fees to attend; however, space is limited, so register early. The direct link for registration is: www.registration123.com/NMPF/2011FFTF/.
NMPF also recently updated the Foundation for the Future website to accommodate details about the Summer Grassroots Tour, and enhance visitors’ exploration of FFTF dairy policy reform programs. Updates at www.futurefordairy.com include improved accessibility of individual Foundation for the Future reform program details, the addition of producer testimonials, and the option to sign up as an official Foundation for the Future supporter.
The website also offers dairy producers and industry stakeholders interactive tools and resources, including a margin protection calculator that helps producers determine an appropriate coverage level for supplemental margin insurance under Foundation for the Future’s Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program. Producers can input their annual milk production and select the percentage of base milk production the program will cover – along with any optional additional coverage – to generate scenarios of how the Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program will benefit their individual operations.
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