Tag: NMPF membership

NMPF September Outreach Highlighted by Nutrition, Animal Health

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF staff addressed topics ranging from equity in nutritional outcomes to the Federal Milk Marketing Order and building momentum for sustainability programs in events worldwide during September. Highlights included:

  • NMPF Director of Regulatory Affairs Miquela Hanselman moderated a panel discussion on achieving health equity through diet and nutrition as part of the National Medical Association’s Professional Development Series on Sept. 11 at the American Public Health Association in Washington.
  • Dr. Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s chief science officer, and Dr. Karen Jordan,a North Carolina dairy farmer and chairwoman of the NMPF Animal Health and Wellbeing Committee, spoke on dairy cattle health needs and priorities at the Animal Health Insititute’s USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics Triannual Meeting Sept. 18 in Ames, IA.
  • Jonker represented the dairy sector perspectives on the H5N1 outbreak at the American Veterinary Medical Association Roundtable on H5N1 on Sept. 23-24 in Schaumberg, IL.
  • NMPF Coordinator for Economic Policy & Global Analysis Allison Wilton met with members of the New Mexico Agriculture Leadership Program and gave an overview of NMPF and USDEC, highlighting NMPF’s efforts in modernizing FMMOs. NMPF Senior Director of Economic Research & Analysis Stephen Cain spoke with SMI’s Board of Directors Sept. 24.
  • FARM Program Senior Director of Animal Care Beverly Hampton Phifer presented at the American Association of Bovine Practitioners annual conference, “Challenging the Norm” Sept. 12-14 in Columbus, OH. Hampton Phifer was joined Thursday, Sept. 12 by Dr. Richard Doak, Dr. Judy Kull and Dr. Valarie Smith for FARM’s session on “Preparing your Clients for FARM Animal Care Version 5”.
  • Nicole Ayache, NMPF chief sustainability officer, participated in this year’s Women in Agribusiness Summit Sept. 24-26 in Denver, CO. Ayache presented on U.S. dairy’s sustainability work, highlighting FARM Environmental Stewardship, during the “Building Momentum for Precompetitive Sustainability Programs” session on Sept. 25.
  • Shawna Morris, NMPF executive vice president for trade policy and global affairs, joined a roundtable event and series of Wisconsin dairy farm and processor visits with U.S. chief agricultural negotiator Doug McKalip and NMPF members Sept. 23-24 to discuss U.S. government efforts to protect common food names in key export markets.
  • Jaime Castaneda, executive vice president for policy development and strategy, travelled to Italy Sept. 23-25 to meet with the leadership of the Parmigiano Reggiano consortium to discuss viable solutions that protects both legitimate geographical indications and common names like “parmesan.” Castaneda also spoke at the First International Conference on Buffalo Mozzarella and Milk Products in Naples on shared challenges on dairy labeling.

NMPF Celebrates Dairy’s Gains in Return to In-Person Annual Meeting

Posted on by Theresa Sweeney

NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney and President and CEO Jim Mulhern touted dairy’s gains in 2021 at NMPF’s joint annual meeting Nov. 15-17, as record exports and per-capita U.S. consumption at a more than 60-year high point to a bright future for the industry.

“The past 20-plus months have shown us that life can change quickly, and in ways beyond our control,” said Mooney, a dairy farmer from Rogersville, Missouri, in remarks before dairy farmer-leaders from NMPF’s 24 member cooperatives. “It’s also shown that when that happens, people turn to what they know and trust. They turn to dairy.”

NMPF joined with the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and the United Dairy Industry Association in the theme of “Make Every Drop Count,” with more than 600 registrants returning to an in-person gathering this year.

NMPF President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mulhern highlighted NMPF’s work for its members in his remarks, including leading policy efforts that brought more than $6 billion in federal aid to dairy farmers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as regulatory initiatives and advances in trade.

“We are ‘The Voice of Dairy Farmers in Our Nation’s Capital,’ and we take that mission very seriously. And through our experience over the past year and a half, I know we are well-positioned to meet the many challenges that lie ahead,” Mulhern said. “When we are strategic, patient, and act with intelligence, and realistic expectations, we can meet our challenges.”

Deputy Agriculture Secretary Jewel Bronaugh also spoke to the meeting via video, highlighting dairy’s leadership in climate-smart agriculture initiatives and environmental stewardship.

“It is inspiring to see the dairy industry as leaders in advancing solutions to the challenges we face in agriculture through inclusive, accessible innovation technology and approaches,” she said. “You are leading the way as United States dairy embraces a 2050 Net Zero Initiative to help dairy farms of all geographies and sizes continue to implement new technologies and adopt economically viable practices in feed production, animal care, energy efficiency and manure management.”

Also providing remarks via video were Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee; Rep. G.T. Thompson, R-PA, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee; and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-ID.

NMPF also held governance meetings and revived its annual, nationally recognized cheese contest – successfully conducted virtually last year – as an in-person celebration. Results here.

Mooney was reelected Chair of the organization, and Dave Scheevel of Foremost Farms was reelected Treasurer.  New Board officers including Simon Vander Woude of California Dairies, Inc., First Vice Chair; Cricket Jacquier of Agri-Mark, Second Vice Chair; and Jay Bryant of Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers, Secretary.

Those five officers are joined by ten others elected this week to NMPF’s Executive Committee:

Steve Schlangen, Associated Milk Producers, Inc.; Rob Vandenheuvel, California Dairies, Inc.; Melvin Medeiros, Dairy Farmers of America; Dennis Rodenbaugh, Dairy Farmers of America; Pete Kappelman, Land O’Lakes; Doug Chapin, Michigan Milk Producers Assn.; Allan Huttema, Northwest Dairy Association; Tony Graves, Prairie Farms Dairy; Craig Caballero, United Dairymen of Arizona; and Jimmy Kerr, Cooperative Milk Producers.

New directors elected to the Board of Directors by NMPF delegates  include:

  • Neil Zwart – California Dairies, Inc.
  • Travis Fogler – Dairy Farmers of America
  • Ed Gallagher – Dairy Farmers of America
  • Karen Jordan – Dairy Farmers of America
  • Melvin Medeiros – Dairy Farmers of America
  • Perry Tjaarda – Dairy Farmers of America
  • Greg Schlafer – Foremost Farms
  • Duane Hershey – Land O’Lakes
  • Doug Chapin – Michigan Milk Producers Assoc.
  • Tony Freeman – Northwest Dairy Association
  • Joe Jenck – Tillamook County Creamery Assoc.
  • Craig Caballero – United Dairymen of Arizona

NMPF also recognized two retiring board members, Greg Wickham of Dairy Farmers of America and Ken Nobis of Michigan Milk Producers Association, as Honorary Directors for Life.

NMPF also held its annual Young Cooperators gathering in conjunction with the annual meeting.