Tag: dairy regulations

NMPF’s August Sees Flurry of Comments, Initiatives

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF spent the traditional August lull in Washington policymaking actively pushing its members’ priorities, submitting regulatory comments to federal agencies.

NMPF stood with other major agricultural organizations in joint comments submitted Aug. 13 against a draft risk assessment in which EPA models human exposure to the “forever chemicals” PFOA or PFOS from the application of sewage sludge, or biosolids, to farmland. The organizations asserted that EPA’s models operate on extreme assumptions that don’t account for the reality of agriculture, despite the agency’s best intentions.

NMPF also continued its decades-long fight against improper and ineffective air emissions modeling through comments Aug. 18 to the National Air Emissions Monitoring Study Group in response to draft revised emission models for animal feeding operations released by EPA late last fall.

After significant analysis, NMPF concluded that the current draft EPA dairy Air Emissions Estimating Methodologies (EEMs) are not appropriate for predicting dairy farm emissions. NMPF described the specific modeling flaws in its comments to support its argument that EPA should permanently cease its efforts in this area.

August also was highlighted by more activity from NEXT (NMPF Export and Trade), the revamped, cooperative-led export assistance program. NEXT member cooperatives secured 37 contracts in August, adding 8.6 million pounds of product in NEXT-assisted sales in 2025. These products will go to customers in Asia, Oceania, Middle East-North Africa, Central America, the Caribbean and South America and will be shipped through December.

NMPF also opened its fundraising raffle for its annual scholarship awards. The raffle runs through this year’s Joint Annual Meeting and concludes on Nov. 12 when winners will be announced.

Prizes this year include a $100 Airbnb gift card, a Cabot Creamery Fan Favorite gift box and more. The raffle can be accessed here. Back by popular demand, the scholarship committee will also be hosting a combination silent and live auction during the Cheese Reception on Nov. 11.

The NMPF National Dairy Leadership Scholarship Program supports master’s and Ph.D. students conducting vital research for the future of the industry. The program is largely funded through raffles and auctions. Donations are also welcome. These events are critical to ensuring the opportunity to support the next generation of dairy enthusiasts.

NMPF’s Joint Annual Meeting on Nov. 10-12, held with the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB) and the United Dairy Industry Association (UDIA), is open for registration. More information and registration is available here.

Meanwhile, the FARM team is beginning to develop its Version 2028 of its Animal Care program, conducting a stakeholder survey through Sept. 5 collecting input from dairy farmers, industry stakeholders and partners about topics, issues and potential changes. The survey results will inform a final report available on the FARM website early next year.

Finally, according to August USDA data, the July margin under the Dairy Margin Coverage program dropped to $10.94/cwt, as the DMC feed cost formula decreased by $0.34/cwt, and the all-milk price fell by $0.50/cwt to $20.80/cwt. The July DMC feed cost dropped on lower corn and soybean meal prices, while the premium alfalfa price changed little from June.

Regulatory Affairs: Helping Good Ideas Advance While Fighting the Bad Ones

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

Highlights

  • Developed strategies to maximize benefits of sustainability provisions included in the Inflation Reduction Act, a key accelerator towards meeting the dairy industry’s 2050 sustainability goals
  • Helped shape the upcoming FDA antibiotic residue sampling assignment to ensure farmer and cooperative needs are being met
  • Advanced development of the FARM Biosecurity module, bringing in on-farm elements from the Secure Milk Supply Plan for continuity of business as herd-threatening diseases make headlines around the world
  • Seized a once-in-a-generation opportunity, collaborating with USDEC and Dairy Management Inc., to host the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in 2023
  • Prepared NMPF’s response to an expected FDA guidance on the use of dairy terms in plant-based beverages while arguing the need for labeling integrity before the agency.

Regulatory work often focused on building upon past successes and slowly erasing regulatory mistakes. NMPF regulatory staff’s wide breadth of issues in 2022 including monitoring the development of the new WOTUS rule and the evolving PFAS regulations to expanding NMPF’s nutrition presence through the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and Women, Infant and Children supplemental nutrition program.

Critical support to the organization ran across the full scope of regulatory efforts. The Inflation Reduction Act passed in August includes numerous provisions that may benefit dairy farmers, but only if their revenue and carbon-reduction possibilities are maximized. NMPF regulatory staff are working with dairy farmers and stakeholders across the industry to enhance opportunities.

NMPF collaborated with FDA, state officials and industry to develop a new antibiotic residue sampling program being administered by FDA. NMPF sits on the NCIMS Appendix N committee to ensure dairy farmer needs are being met during the development of such programs.

Herd-threatening diseases continue to pop up around the world from high pathogenic avian influenza in the United States to foot and mouth disease threatening to enter Australia. NMPF through the National Dairy FARM Program is continuing to expand the suite of biosecurity resources available for dairy farmers to work to protect their herd and employees from a potential outbreak.

The United States is set to host the 2023 International Dairy Federation World Summit in Chicago, Illinois. NMPF, working with USDEC and DMI, is a key player in developing the agenda for the conference which is set to highlight the United States dairy industry.

In light of the draft guidance “Labeling of Plant-based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements; Draft Guidance for Industry “being sent to the Office of Management and March for review before its potential release, NMPF continues to argue the need for labeling enforcement and transparency  by FDA. While what the guidance outlines is unknown, NMPF continues to emphasize to FDA that any guidance which does not align with the standards of identity regulations is in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.