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NMPF Urges Surplus Nonfat Dry Milk Use for Afghan Schools

December 1, 2009

 

NMPF Urges Surplus Nonfat Dry Milk Use for Afghan Schools

At last month’s NMPF Annual Meeting in Grapevine, TX, USDA Under Secretary Jim Miller reiterated the Department’s strong support for dairy farmers, and asked for suggestions for the use of nearly 60 million pounds of surplus nonfat dry milk purchased by the Commodity Credit Corporation earlier this year under the price support program.

In response, NMPF has urged USDA to work with the Department of Defense to ship those stocks to Afghanistan for processing into school milk at a new plant outside Kabul. In this way, U.S. powder stocks would support the fledgling Afghan dairy processing industry, help establish outlets for Afghan farmers, and develop markets for U.S. exports.

More importantly, U.S. commanders on the ground in Afghanistan have identified education as a “number one priority” in promoting Afghanistan’s peaceful development. Under this program, surplus dry milk stocks will also provide important nutrition for Afghan children and encourage many parents to send their children to school who would not otherwise do so, providing critical support to America’s troops in the country.

NMPF President & CEO Jerry Kozak said of the initiative: “We believe this is the best possible use for this surplus powder, on many levels.”

If you have questions, please call Roger Cryan or Dana Brooks in the NMPF office.