NMPF Chief Sustainability Officer Nicole Ayache, in an interview for Dairy Radio Now, explains how farmers can benefit from using the new information tool that allows a more precise computation of their carbon footprint. The FARM Environmental Stewardship program recently refined the voluntary model to help track the progress being made in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Tag: dairy sustainability
New FARM Initiative Advances Dairy Stewardship
FARM Environmental Stewardship Version 3 is out – and it’s a step forward for dairy farmers both as stewards and as business managers, according to NMPF Chief Sustainability Officer Nicole Ayache, who oversaw development of the initiative through the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, in a Dairy Defined Podcast released today.
With new, updating modeling, under FARM ES Version 3, “farmers can actually run scenarios to assess practice or technology changes, see how those would impact their greenhouse gas emissions, and any potential impact on milk productivity as well,” Ayache said. “The scenarios, being able to project what-ifs, is the biggest benefit.”
The FARM Program is a partnership between NMPF and Dairy Management Inc. that helps ensure dairy’s success by demonstrating U.S. dairy farmer commitment to safe, high-quality, high-integrity milk. FARM ES Version 3 took effect Oct. 31.
For more information on FARM ES Version 3, visit the FARM Program website. For more of the Dairy Defined podcast, you can find and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music under the podcast name “Dairy Defined.”
Media outlets may use clips from the podcast on the condition of attribution to the National Milk Producers Federation.
Sustainability Can Work for U.S. Dairy, With Proper Attention to Profits
The future of U.S. dairy lies in exports, which is taking up an increasing share of U.S. milk production. And as with all markets, pleasing the customer is a key to success; internationally, the perceived sustainability of a product is a key element of customer decision-making.
That can bring peril to dairy farmers, as anti-animal agriculture activists have unfairly made livestock a target worldwide over alleged issues with sustainability. Across the globe, dairy farms that are seen as environmentally unfriendly are being penalized by governments and facing pressure to change practices at the risk of added costs or lost business. Denmark, for example, has made headlines as the first country to tax livestock farmers for greenhouse gases emitted by cows, sheep and pigs.
But for American milk producers, armed with the right tools and appropriate public policy, sustainability can make farmers more money than it may cost them.
Sustainability pressures have been less intense in the United States, in large part because of the dairy industry’s proactive leadership via our industry Net Zero goals, our FARM Program stewardship, and our demonstrable record as a global leader in sustainability. While farmers elsewhere see threats to their production, U.S. farmers can tout their sustainability and increase their global share, showing how U.S. dairy can succeed – in fact, even thrive, in this environment.
But opportunities need to be underpinned by sound policy and solid economics. Because if the economics of sustainability don’t work, then sustainability efforts will fail.
One important step toward making this challenge work occurred in May, when FDA completed its review of the safety and effectiveness data of Bovaer, the first FDA-reviewed feed ingredient with a methane-reduction claim for lactating dairy cattle. This tool has been available to our competitors; FDA’s latest action now puts U.S. dairy on a more competitive playing field with its global counterparts.
After years of NMPF and industry advocacy, Bovaer will now be available to American dairy producers. That win creates opportunities: Implementing feed ingredient or feed additive interventions creates the potential to sell carbon credits or carbon reductions in carbon markets. It also paves the way for USDA conservation program support. NMPF member cooperatives and their industry partners were grateful that USDA awarded $89 million last year under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program to support farms in using Bovaer to reduce their methane emissions. Dairy hopes for more RCPP resources this year to boost farmer uptake nationwide.
Elanco, Bovaer’s manufacturer, estimates that use of its product has the potential to create an annual return of $20 or more per lactating cow, which would make the feed additive not only beneficial for the environment, but also for farmer profitability, not counting potential feed efficiency that can boost margins.
But obviously, one development alone isn’t the end-all toward making sustainability profitable. NMPF is also supporting passage of the Innovative FEED Act, a bipartisan measure introduced in both chambers of Congress that directs FDA to review enteric-reducing and other products using its Food Additive Petition process. Supporting IFEED would boost the economic sustainability of dairy producers by allowing more innovative products into the marketplace faster. NMPF has long advocated for faster review and approval of animal feed ingredients that can reduce enteric methane emissions.
NMPF is also advocating for passage of the bipartisan, bicameral EMIT LESS Act to help get these important feed additives into the hands of farmers quickly. This measure would better target popular voluntary conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program toward farmer adoption of enteric emission-reducing products like Bovaer. As environmental markets continue to develop, this targeted support will be vital to helping farmers who choose to adopt these products in a financially viable and successful manner.
Regardless of the momentary political winds, sustainability is unlikely to subside as a political or marketplace concern. But American dairy producers can benefit, especially as competitors find themselves under even greater pressures and U.S. dairy farmers stand ready to meet global demand.
Exciting opportunities to create a more sustainable and profitable future for the dairy sector are emerging. With smart decisions and a farmer-focused approach, U.S. dairy can be the global leader, nourishing the world and boosting farmer fortunes at home.
Gregg Doud
President & CEO, NMPF
Bovaer Feed Additive to Enter Market After Years of NMPF Advocacy
Years of NMPF efforts for dairy farmers paid off May 28 when the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced that it’s granting Elanco the right to market its Bovaer (3-NOP) feed additive in the United States for use in lactating dairy cows after completing a multi-year review. Bovaer has a proven history of reducing enteric methane emissions in dairy cows and provides a key tool toward dairy meeting its industry Net Zero commitment.
The news came after persistent and patient – but at times aggressive — NMPF advocacy that included direct engagement with FDA, USDA, and the White House; multiple letters and comments; and numerous congressional letters, hearing questions, and staff-level outreach.
“FDA approval of Elanco’s Bovaer is another important step on U.S. dairy’s journey toward a net-zero future, one in which dairy farmers have already made great progress,” said NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud in a statement. “Bovaer and other new technologies that reduce enteric emissions will help U.S. farmers be rewarded for participating in voluntary, producer-led sustainability initiatives, which is critical for the success of such efforts.
“Consumers around the world are demanding lower-carbon foods. Innovations such as Bovaer will help U.S. dairy farmers remain globally competitive and maintain their role as leaders in more sustainable dairy production. We thank FDA for its recognition of and support for these efforts.”
FDA’s approval of Bovaer paves the way for USDA to move forward with the fiscal year 2023 funds awarded to several NMPF member cooperatives for feed management under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. It also highlights the importance of the FY 2024 application process, which is open until July 2. USDA’s announcement for that program is available here.
NMPF Lauds FDA’s Approval of Bovaer
From Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation:
“FDA approval of Elanco’s Bovaer is another important step on U.S. dairy’s journey toward a net-zero future, one in which dairy farmers have already made great progress. Bovaer and other new technologies that reduce enteric emissions will help U.S. farmers be rewarded for participating in voluntary, producer-led sustainability initiatives, which is critical for the success of such efforts.
“Consumers around the world are demanding lower-carbon foods. Innovations such as Bovaer will help U.S. dairy farmers remain globally competitive and maintain their role as leaders in more sustainable dairy production. We thank FDA for its recognition of and support for these efforts.”
“We also commend Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and his team at USDA for supporting dairy farmers as they prepare to use Bovaer on their own operations. We are grateful to the department for awarding more than $90 million to dairy farmer-owned cooperatives and partner organizations for innovative feed management under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program for fiscal year 2023. FDA’s approval of Bovaer now enables these key resources to move forward, and sets the stage for dairy to build on this first round in fiscal year 2024.”
Dairy’s building a better environmental tool
By Nicole Ayache, Chief Sustainability Officer, National Milk Producers Federation
The Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Environmental Stewardship Program (FARM ES) is collaborating with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy to integrate a new, process-based model for greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting: the Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) model. This rigorous, science-based (but user friendly) approach will position FARM ES as the key on-farm tool to support U.S. dairy community efforts to achieve its 2050 environmental stewardship goals, including to become GHG neutral or better. FARM ES is the U.S. dairy industry’s unified platform to track and aggregate on-farm environmental progress, with a suite of informational resources to support continuous improvement.
FARM ES will begin using RuFaS as its underlying GHG quantification model starting this summer with Version 3. This introductory launch will contain the core elements of the RuFaS model to enable farm-level GHG footprinting and scenario analyses, which help support informed decision-making about the adoption of practices and technologies. Further elements — like enhancements to the energy data inputs and conducting economic analyses — will be added to FARM ES as they become available through ongoing RuFaS research.
A key focus of the remainder this year will be to collect farmer, FARM evaluator, and other stakeholder feedback so the new platform can be refined in 2025.
Real-world refinement
The FARM Program relies on stakeholder feedback and guidance from the scientific experts at Dairy Management Inc. to guide its process of continuous improvement. Input from dairy farmers, cooperative and processor staff, and researchers informed the need to upgrade the GHG model that powers FARM ES. Stakeholders consistently requested a tool that can deliver insights as they evaluate opportunities to further improve on-farm environmental outcomes.
Stakeholder engagement and participatory research continue to be essential as FARM ES begins the work to integrate the RuFaS model. A working group composed of farmers and staff from dairy cooperatives and processors meet with RuFaS researchers to discuss the scientific model and tool functionality. The multi-stakeholder working group has met seven times so far, covering the animal, manure, feed, energy, and economic RuFaS modules and giving feedback on the structure of data inputs, desired functionality for the new FARM ES tool, and more.
More than 25 farms volunteered to participate in scientific model validation to support RuFaS calibration and refinement, with data collection complete in 2023. The volunteer farms ranged in size from 50 head to over 15,000 head and represent diverse geographies and production styles, including tie stalls, freestalls, dry lost, grazing, and more. The farms and the evaluators that supported their data collection were invited to provide written feedback and join live feedback sessions. They provided helpful guidance on topics such as ease and challenges in collecting and interpreting the data inputs, quality of data collection training in fully equipping evaluators, and the structure of the results report.
With the introduction of FARM ES Version 3, FARM will create feedback forms for farmers and FARM evaluators to provide suggestions. FARM also will host stakeholder webinars to foster discussion about the new platform.
This summer’s launch will bring exciting updates to FARM ES. They are only the beginning of the journey toward a more scientifically robust tool that brings greater insights to participating dairy farmers.
This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on March 18, 2024.
FDA Moves Toward Improved Feed Ingredient Reviews
In an important step to modernize its review and approval of animal feed ingredients, the Food and Drug Administration said Feb. 2 it’s withdrawing long-standing policy that classifies animal feed ingredients as animal drugs if making claims on production, environment, or food safety-related benefits.
NMPF has long advocated for FDA to rescind this policy to help pave the way for faster review and approval of animal feed ingredients that can reduce enteric methane emissions. A streamlined approval process, specifically one that would allow feed additives to be reviewed as foods rather than as drugs, is important for dairy farmers seeking to maintain global competitiveness as trade rivals adopt such ingredients, which currently are not allowed in the United States because of lengthy regulatory hurdles.
FDA also made clear that it supports the legislative authority embodied in the NMPF-backed Innovative FEED Act (H.R. 6687, S. 1842), which directs the agency to review enteric-reducing and other products using its Food Additive Petition process. That shift would represent an improvement over the current approach of reviewing such additives as drugs.
NMPF is urging dairy allies to write members of the House of Representatives to become sponsors for the Innovative FEED Act, which is critical to speeding FDA approval of Elanco’s 3-NOP (Bovaer) and similar future products. This NMPF call-to-action contains a pre-drafted message seeking House member endorsement of the legislation.
Overcoming challenges is what we do
By Randy Mooney, Chairman, NMPF Board of Directors
We’ve had a lot of achievements this year, but it’s also been a challenging time.
A year ago, costs on the farm were extremely high, but we had prices that would cover that. This year, costs are still high, but prices are down. That’s a lot of stress on the farm. And we’re also dealing with problems that we’ve dealt with for years.
There are labor problems; you just can’t find anybody to work. Supply chain disruptions are closer to the farm this year. It’s milk trucks getting milk off the farm; it’s feed trucks bringing feed into the farm. It’s getting simple parts that we took for granted we could get anytime we wanted to. There are geopolitical issues and extreme weather events.
We have challenges all the time, but it just seems like we continue to have more. It seems like we’re in the eye of a storm. But as farmers, we always anticipate a moment before the dawn, before things turn, before things get good again.
One of the things I’ve learned is that a lot of the world is envious of what we have.
They’re envious because we have the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, a self-governing program. We have a government that recognizes what we’re doing with sustainability — it’s not being mandated down from the top.
We’re taking care of our own. Today, we produce more milk using fewer and fewer natural resources. We’re revitalizing rural communities. For every dollar generated in dairy farming, it turns over three to seven times in local communities, generating $750 billion in the United States. That‘s pretty impressive.
We’re nourishing families around the world through milk’s unbeatable nutritional value. I’ve dairy farmed for a long time, through good times and bad times, but there’s never been a time that I haven’t laid my head down on my pillow at night and been proud of what I accomplished on my farm. We’re putting the most nourishing, most nutritious product known to man in that milk tank. And when that truck leaves, I know I’ve done something good.
Our ability to evolve how we work and adapt our resiliency is becoming more and more important. This year, we came together as an industry to unite around issues that helped build that resiliency. NMPF worked with member co-ops, farm bureaus, and state dairy organizations to come to consensus on the most substantial issues. Even going back to 2021, when you talk about Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization, we’ve worked hard to get these things done. Nobody knows what the outcome’s going to be, but you telling your story has made a difference.
Beyond that, we’re going to get a farm bill passed — we’re going have an extension. We’ve been working to implement the next version of FARM, FARM 5.0, that goes into effect in July. We also will work on promoting dairy’s sustainable nutrition. Dairy offers the most complete nutritional package available, and what’s amazing is that as we produce more milk, we’ll continue to use fewer natural resources. That’s the definition of sustainable nutrition.
For years, we’ve talked about sustainability in terms of environmental stewardship and how that translates into financial value for farms. Now, the financial values are there. You take solar panels, wind, methane digesters, and a lot of things happen on a farm that’s generating electricity to run your farms and to run your neighbor’s households. We’re there now. What we need is conservation funding in the farm bill through USDA grants through state and federal programs. There’s real money available to help us continue to do that, and we will.
No imitation food from a nut, a bean, or grain can hold a candle to dairy’s nutritional package. We all know that. That’s why it’s important to keep fighting the fight on plant-based alternative labeling. In the guidance that was issued earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognized and admitted that plant-based alternatives are nutritionally inferior to real dairy.
Dairy protein plays a critical role in feeding people around the world, and it can’t be replaced by alternatives, including plant-based. Consumers have the right to understand how they’re nourishing their families, and we’re going to continue to advocate for the Dairy PRIDE Act to try to get that passed in Congress.
We’re going to continue to fight for more flavored milk in schools and higher fat levels, especially for those children whose main source of nutrition is through the school milk program. Milk is essential to their diets, and we’re not going to give up that fight. We’re all part of an industry that’s doing remarkable things. We are winning.
This has been adapted from Chairman of the NMPF Board of Directors Randy Mooney’s speech at the National Milk Producers Federation annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., on Nov. 14, 2023. This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on Nov. 22, 2023.
NMPF’s Bjerga on Global Food Security and Dairy’s Role
Author of the book “Endless Appetites” and NMPF Executive Vice President for Communications and Industry Relations Alan Bjerga speaks on trends in global food security from the World Food Prize in Des Moines, IA, with RFD-TV. Bjerga also discusses how dairy and animal agriculture are an important part of food security solutions both through nutrition and job creating, pointing out how livestock farming can be done sustainably and noting dairy’s role in furthering that goal.
NMPF and USDEC Form Alliance with Italian Dairy Association to Promote Priorities Internationally
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), and Italian Dairy Association (Assolatte) signed an agreement today that increases collaboration between the three groups as they promote the nutritional benefits of dairy products and support dairy-friendly policies in international forums.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) organizes a set of objectives centered around ensuring the accurate and exclusive labeling of dairy terms for milk and dairy products and advocating for international standards and guidelines that recognize the contributions of the global dairy industry to sustainable food systems. The partnership will last through 2025.
“Our two countries each have a proud tradition of producing world-class, sustainable dairy products,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “That shared passion will fuel this partnership as we work to proactively advance positive, sound international dairy policies.”
“Dairy producers in Italy and the United States both have incredible opportunities to grow and thrive, while also facing similar challenges that threaten that potential,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “This agreement is an important step in growing our voice as we continue to call for fair, science-based policies that support sustainable growth for dairy producers and manufacturers around the world.”
“This is an ambitious and far-reaching agreement between two giants of the global dairy industry, Italy and the United States – a cooperation that we hope will help to remove potential obstacles to the production and marketing of milk and dairy products,” said Paolo Zanetti, chairman of Assolatte.
The MOU between NMPF, USDEC, and Assolatte complements similar agreements signed last year with Sociedad Rural Argentina and the Chilean Federacion Nacional de Productores de Leche (Fedeleche), which strengthened NMPF and USDEC’s relationships in Latin America.
From left, Jaime Castaneda, USDEC and NMPF EVP for policy development and strategy, Paolo Zanetti, chairman of Assolatte, and Nick Gardner, USDEC SVP for sustainability and multilateral affairs
CDI’s Vanderham, NMPF’s Bjerga discuss California flooding
NMPF Board of Directors member Cory Vanderham of California Dairies, Inc., and NMPF Senior Vice President of Communications Alan Bjerga talk about the challenges of California dairy producers and the need for long-term policy solutions on RFD-TV. While record snowpack is replenishing water supplies battered by multi-year drought, it also is bringing chaos to producers who are facing extreme weather conditions that require immediate reaction. For more details on how Vanderham has handled this year’s deluge, check out NMPF’s recent Dairy Defined podcast.
NMPF Comments Urge USDA to Elevate Dairy in Conservation Programs
NMPF submitted comments Dec. 21 to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service urging it to prioritize critical opportunities for dairy as it implements new climate-smart conservation funding in the Inflation Reduction Act enacted in August.
In its letter, NMPF urged USDA to develop new initiatives focused on manure and feed management, both of which will help dairy farmers advance their sustainability leadership as the sector works to fulfill its voluntary, producer-led goal of becoming greenhouse gas neutral or better by 2050.
NMPF supported the Inflation Reduction Act’s $20 billion in landmark new funding for farm bill conservation programs.
“Dairy farmers seize environmental sustainability opportunities whenever possible,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. The funding increases “better position dairy farmers to effectively implement the dairy sector’s Net Zero Initiative and fulfill its 2050 environmental stewardship goals.”
USDA conservation programs offer important voluntary, incentive-based assistance to dairy farmers as they carry out multiple stewardship practices, but more can be done to emphasize systems and technologies that can yield meaningful environmental benefits for dairy producers. In its letter, NMPF urged USDA to “give priority to innovative approaches to manure and feed management, both of which are significant areas of opportunity for dairy producers as the industry strives to become GHG-neutral or better by 2050.”
NMPF’s submission recommended a new multi-pronged manure management initiative within the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which received the largest share of the new funding provided in the Inflation Reduction Act. This initiative, if implemented, would focus on reducing methane emissions associated with manure handling and storage by targeting investments in waste separation and handling as well as methane digesters, which can capture as much as 80 percent of the methane from a waste stream. The initiative would also include a cap and flare component, emphasizing an approach better suited to those dairy operations that do not have the capacity for larger technologies like methane digesters.
NMPF also urged an enhanced focus on feed management to help dairy farmers augment their work to reduce enteric methane emissions, which can comprise as much as one-third of a dairy farm’s greenhouse gas footprint. NMPF’s recommendation included a focused effort to better educate NRCS staff on innovative new feed management strategies to increase the number of technical service providers that can work directly with producers on feed management plans.
NMPF will work closely with USDA as the department moves forward with implementation of this important new funding and will also partner with Congress in the upcoming farm bill to further target conservation programs toward meeting dairy’s environmental stewardship needs.
