Tag: dairy farmers

NMPF’s Bjerga on WOTUS Efforts

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses NMPF’s leadership in ensuring dairy voices are heard in proposed revision to Waters of the U.S. regulations on RFD-Radio, hosted by the Illinois Farm Bureau. NMPF submitted comments to EPA on Monday along with the American Farm Bureau Federation and other organizations expressing concern with the pace of Biden Administration revisions, asking for clear regulatory language and policies that respect legal precedent and the Clean Water Act.

NMPF’s Bjerga on DMC

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses this year’s enhanced benefits under the Dairy Margin Coverage Program on RFD-TV. A better feed-cost calculation and a production update for some smaller producers- are 2022 highlights for DMC, which along with risk-management initiatives such as Dairy-RP and LGM-Dairy from USDA, offer a wide range of tools for producers, all made more workable and useful via NMPF advocacy.

NMPF Leads Dairy in FMMO Discussion

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

 

NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern called for dairy farmers from all regions to work together for improvements to the Federal Milk Marketing Order system in his remarks at NMPF’s annual meeting in Las Vegas as shown on RFD-TV. Positive changes for dairy producers is possible through NMPF leadership because of the nature of the organization as an industry leader, said NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications, Alan Bjerga.

NMPF’s Mulhern Speaks at Annual Meeting

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern speaks at the organization’s annual meeting in Las Vegas, NV on Nov. 16.

Chairman Mooney Highlights Dairy’s Value at Annual Meeting

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney discusses how dairy proved its worth to U.S. consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic at the organization’s annual meeting in Las Vegas, NV. Also, NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses some of the meeting’s key agenda items, including the industry’s sustainability commitments and the need to explore milk-pricing reform.

NMPF’s Bjerga Discusses Dairy’s Joint Annual Meeting

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

 

National Milk Producers Federation Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga discusses NMPF’s joint annual meeting with allied dairy organizations this week in Las Vegas. More than 600 dairy farmers and industry professionals are converging for discussions on policy and marketplace accomplishments in 2021, as well as future challenges. Bjerga says a united dairy sector can face whatever comes its way.

Ports Crisis Costing Dairy Farmers, NMPF’s Castaneda Says

Posted on by Alan Bjerga

U.S. dairy exports are being hindered by supply chain backups as U.S. ports, NMPF Executive Vice President Jaime Castaneda says in an interview on RFD-TV. “It is holding up the amount of product that we can export overseas, therefore that actually impacts the price of every single producer in the country,” Castaneda said.

NMPF Joins Agricultural Leaders in Urging Farmers and Rural Communities to Get Vaccinated

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF and several of its member cooperatives are among the more than 30 state and national agricultural organizations representing farm, commodity and agribusiness communities that have joined together to promote vaccination among farmers and other rural Americans, sending an open letter to association members to add another voice to the call to get vaccinated.

“With a presence in all 50 states, dairy farmers know well the impacts vaccinations have on communities and how important it is for businesses and the economy to move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. “We’re proud of dairy’s leadership in the agricultural community on this crucial issue and pledge to do what we can to help make our communities safe.”

NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney, along with Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, co-bylined an editorial published in the Des Moines Register last week to share a message about the important connection between agriculture, science, and health.

“The key to defeating coronavirus, like it was for polio, measles, and other diseases that left their mark across the countryside, is the vaccine,” the two wrote. “Success will only be achieved one decision — and one person — at a time.”

The effort is in response to the continued challenge of the COVID-19 Delta variant cases increasing precipitously among the unvaccinated populations across the country. Many rural communities have been hit hard by the Delta variant, which has stressed healthcare systems and threatens to greatly impact those we depend on for a safe food system. Agricultural leaders in the letter are asking farmers to protect their health and their communities by getting vaccinated saying, “Farmers make science-based decisions every day to protect their farms and their communities – they should make these same decisions to protect their health as well.”

An Open Letter to Our Members

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

As we hear heartbreaking accounts of the COVID-19 resurgence depleting resources in rural communities and overwhelming already stressed rural health care systems, we can’t help but feel a deep sense of frustration. After so much progress in fighting the pandemic – the decisions we’ve all made to stay safe, the work to develop a vaccine and a distribution system that could reach every American — we still have so far to go. As a farmer, a food worker or an input provider, we know that you play a critical role in the health of our rural towns and businesses. We know that you take great pride in helping keep your communities vibrant. Unfortunately, the virus is still threatening that vibrancy in many rural areas and indeed, in our nation.

That’s why, as leaders of agricultural organizations, we are speaking up to support vaccination efforts in our rural communities and in all communities nationwide. To enable informed choices, it is critical that accurate information be heeded — and there has been no shortage of scientific data that supports the effectiveness and necessity of the COVID-19 vaccines. We know that you make science-based decisions every day—whether those decisions are how best to protect your crops or your livestock. Now, however, we need your help in ensuring the health of your families and your communities, which is why we urge you to support vaccinations in your community.

We know that you are no stranger to vaccines. Those of you who raise livestock administer vaccines regularly to protect your animals. Agriculture pioneered the development of safe COVID vaccines decades ago. Shots that prevent bovine coronavirus have been available since the 1970s. Technological advances have long benefited agriculture, but the development of safe, effective COVID vaccines for humans has only further confirmed our already-strong appreciation for science and research. We hope this appreciation for science and research is a lesson that will long outlast the pandemic. We saw the promise of vaccination against COVID early on: We urged the federal government to make farmers and other essential food workers a top vaccination priority. We know many of you have led vaccination efforts your communities across the country, and for that we are grateful.

Recent events, however, show us that much more work needs to be done. The need for shots remains, as does the need to share accurate information that addresses people’s concerns. There will always be some people who, for whatever reason, can’t or shouldn’t get a shot; but these numbers are very small. If you have questions, please talk to your doctor or a local medical expert you can trust to give you the facts.

The rise in cases as a result of the Delta variant only further highlights what’s been true all along: For a vaccination campaign to work, people must individually decide to protect themselves, their families, and their communities. The pandemic’s toll on rural health and businesses, as well as our broader economy, won’t ebb until that happens. The key to defeating coronavirus, like it was for polio, measles, and other diseases that left their mark across the countryside, is the vaccine. Success will only be achieved one decision—and one person—at a time.

You know how powerful an individual decision can be. The decision you make on your farm today will feed your family and consumers around the world. Your choices and your dedication keep families and communities healthy. And just like these farm decisions, the decisions you make now can help ensure the months and years ahead are much brighter as we wrestle COVID-19 to the ground. In farm country, we talk a lot about rolling up our sleeves to get the job done in our fields and pastures. Now it is time that we join together and roll up our sleeves one more time to get this job done.

 

Sincerely,

Tara Artho, Texas Grain and Feed Association

William Beaton, Agri-Mark, Inc.

Jay Bryant, Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association

Stephen Censky, American Soybean Association

Chuck Conner, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

Daren Coppock, Agricultural Retailers Association

Jon Doggett, National Corn Growers Association

Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation

Stephanie Eckroat, Kansas Dairy Association

Dr. Barbara Glenn, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

Allan Huttema, Darigold

Janet Klein, Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association

Daryl Larson, Bongards Creameries

Andrew LaVigne, American Seed Trade Association

Kirk Leeds, Iowa Soybean Association

Chuck Lippstreu, Michigan Agri-Business Association

Jim Mulhern, National Milk Producers Federation

Chris Novak, CropLife America

Steve Records, Grain Elevator and Processing Society

Corey Rosenbusch, The Fertilizer Institute

Greg Schlafer, Foremost Farms USA

Jayne Sebright, Center for Dairy Excellence

Ron Seeber, Kansas Grain & Feed Association

Mike Seyfert, National Grain & Feed Association

Joseph Smentek, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association

Jim Sutter, U.S. Soybean Export Council

Owen Wagner, North Carolina Soybean Producers Association

Betsy Ward, USA Rice

Gary Wheeler, Missouri Soybean Association

Richard Wilkins, Mid-Atlantic Soybean Association

Dairy Farmers Welcome Ambassador Tai to Trade Forum Hosted by Rep. Kind

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) today commended Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai for hosting a trade forum at a Wisconsin dairy farm. Several dairy farmers had the opportunity to voice their concerns and priorities for dairy exports with Ambassador Tai and highlight the impact of trade policy on American dairy producers.

USDEC and NMPF members participating in the event emphasized the need for greater market access for dairy products and the impediments trade barriers pose to greater international trade. At the event, dairy farmers belonging to NMPF and USDEC members Associated Milk Producers, Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, FarmFirst, and Organic Valley, among others, praised Congressman Kind for his leadership as he continues to encourage the Biden Administration to work toward greater opportunities in international markets. The event was hosted by Hamburg Hills Farm, an Organic Valley member located in Stoddard, Wisconsin.

“On behalf of dairy producers and their cooperatives, NMPF thanks Congressman Kind for his ongoing advocacy in securing trade opportunities for dairy farmers in Wisconsin and nationwide. We’re grateful that Ambassador Tai and hardworking USTR staff are pursuing a dispute settlement case to finally secure Canadian market access granted under USMCA,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF. “We look forward to working with Ambassador Tai, Representative Kind, and their staff to reduce foreign trade barriers through country-to-country dialogues and new trade agreements.”

“Obtaining and expanding market share abroad is critical to U.S. dairy manufacturers and exporters. The global dairy industry is more competitive than ever, so we greatly appreciate Congressman Kind hosting Ambassador Tai on a dairy to provide tangible examples of why the U.S. dairy value chain depends on international trade,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of USDEC. “We’re thrilled the ambassador could visit the farm to see for herself how America’s dairy farmers are producing for the global marketplace. We appreciate both of their personal efforts to ensure Canada meets its tariff-rate quota obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).”