FARM Leads discussion on H5N1, NMPF Talks FMMO, YCs Plan Future at World Dairy Expo

NMPF and the FARM Program held sessions Oct. 3 and 4 exploring current industry happenings at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI. Dairy farmer members, NMPF staff and other industry experts participated, sharing insights and discussing ongoing efforts to drive the industry forward.

NMPF’s National YC Program kicked off Oct. 3 with a panel discussion on farm transition planning. NMPF members Ben Smith of Cool Lawn Farms in Remington, VA, Steve Ohlde of Ohlde Dairy in Linn, KS, Hannah Lansing of J&K Dairy in Sunnyside, WA and Myron Czech of Pike Hills Dairy in Little Falls, MN shared their experiences and insights with farm transitions.

Later that day, the FARM Program partnered with Uplevel Dairy Podcast to bring Expo attendees exclusive insights into the ongoing H5N1 animal health outbreak. Veterinary and producer perspectives were shared during the panel discussion, which discussed best practices for mitigating H5N1 risks and preparing for a potential outbreak. NMPF’s Miquela Hanselman shared recommendations to strengthen producers’ disease preparedness plans.

The day concluded with another panel discussion featuring Peter Vitaliano, NMPF’s Vice President of Economic Policy and Market Research, who examined the short- and long-term impacts of the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) modernization process on dairy farmers. He was joined by Land O’Lakes’ Pete Kappelman and Somula Schwoeppe, owner of Schwoeppe Dairy Farm. The panel discussed the USDA’s proposed updates and next steps in the FMMO modernization process.

NMPF’s National YC Program partnered with the Dairy Girl Network on Oct. 4 to host a panel featuring women leaders in the U.S. dairy industry. The event, which reached over 1,500 attendees and livestream viewers, included Krysta Harden of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, Joanna Shipp of Bowmont Dairy, Krista Knigge from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, and Gertie van den Goor of Goma Dairy Farm. The discussion highlighted leadership experiences, strategies for overcoming industry challenges and the evolving role of women in dairy.

NMPF, FARM Program Lead Industry Discussions at World Dairy Expo

NMPF and the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program will be hosting educational and outreach engagements this week at the World Dairy Expo, in Madison, WI.

Sessions will include farm transition planning, biosecurity, and Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) modernization.

Highlights include:

  • The National Young Cooperators (YC) Program is hosting a panel discussion on lessons learned in dairy farm transition planning, beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT on Thursday, in Mendota Room 2. The panel will feature dairy farmers sharing their experiences with transitioning farm ownership and management.
  • At 10:30 a.m. CT in the same room, the FARM Program will present a panel on H5N1 prevention strategies and best practices with animal health and biosecurity experts including NMPF’s Miquela Hanselman, along with Brent Wilson, a Michigan dairy farmer with firsthand experience managing an H5N1 outbreak. The panel will provide actionable strategies to help dairy farmers navigate the ongoing challenges posed by H5N1.
  • At 1 p.m. CT, also in Mendota Room 2, NMPF will host a session on Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization. Panelists including NMPF Economic Policy Committee Chair Pete Kappelman and NMPF Chief Economist Peter Vitaliano will explore the immediate effects of potential updates and the long-term structural adjustments necessary to ensure the FMMO system continues to support a fair and competitive dairy marketplace.
  • The National YC Program will also cohost with the Dairy Girl Network a panel discussion on Friday from 12:30 to 2 p.m. CT. As part of the Tanbark Talk series, this session will feature industry leaders who will explore the unique challenges and opportunities women face across the dairy supply chain, from local farms to international markets.
  • The FARM Program’s booth, #4508, in the Exhibit Hall will be open throughout the week for discussions with farmers and allied industry higlighting recent updates for FARM program areas. Farmer resources including posters, manuals and prep guides will also be available.

Doud, Kappelman Speak; FARM Reaches Out; and YCs Promote Diverse Farmers at World Dairy Expo

NMPF’s incoming CEO and a member of its executive committee shared their insights on agricultural policy, while the FARM Program connected with producers and the National Young Cooperators (YC) Program promoted young and diverse dairy farmer voices at the World Dairy Expo.

Current NMPF Chief Operating Officer Gregg Doud and Pete Kappelman of Land O’Lakes discussed the prospects for farm bill passage and the ins and outs of federal risk management programs on a panel at Expo on Oct. 5. Meanwhile, the National Dairy FARM Program connected with farmers and industry leaders through its booth at the trade show all week and hosted an informational session the same day.

The FARM Program’s presence at World Dairy Expo each year offers an opportunity for FARM Program staff to share program updates face-to-face, and to receive feedback from producers and FARM Program evaluators. This year, FARM staff shared important updates about the upcoming Animal Care Version 5 launch next July, upcoming changes to Environmental Stewardship in Version 3, details about the recent FARM Biosecurity — Enhanced Program, the impact of the Workforce Development Program, and participation data across all program areas.

The YC Program hosted a panel discussion facilitated by Uplevel Dairy Podcast’s Peggy Coffeen, “The Eight Questions that Will Move Your Dairy Farm Forward,” on Oct. 5 at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI. Three young dairy farmer leaders participated in the panel including Wisconsin dairy farmers Paul Lippert, a Foremost Farms member owner, Laura Raatz, a Land O’Lakes, Inc. member owner, and Nathan Wiese, a member owner of Farm First Dairy Cooperative.

Panelists discussed how they are positioning themselves for long-term success by answering eight key questions related to culture, sustainability and profitability. More than three dozen YCs from seven member cooperatives participated in the session and reception later that day.

The National YC Program co-hosted a Tanbark Talk the next day with the Dairy Girl Network exploring the leadership challenges women encounter as they navigate careers in the dairy industry and prepare for future success. The conversation was facilitated by the Dairy Girl Network’s Laura Daniels and panelists included Lorilee Schultz, a Prairie Farms member owner and chairperson of the National YC Program, Julie Mauer, a Land O’Lakes Inc. member owner, Dairy Farmers of America’s Mary Knigge and Rita Vander Kooi, an Associated Milk Producers Inc. member owner.

NMPF, FARM Program at IDF World Dairy Summit, World Dairy Expo

NMPF and the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program is being well-represented at two key fall events for dairy in October, the International Dairy Federation 2023 World Dairy Summit in Chicago, Oct. 15-19, and the World Dairy Expo Oct. 3-6 in Madison, WI.

The IDF 2023 World Dairy Summit’s Chicago meeting will be the first hosted by the United States since 1993 and is largely the result of NMPF and U.S. Dairy Export Council leadership, complemented by extensive sponsorship and staff support by Dairy Management Inc. and additional support from others in the U.S. dairy industry. NMPF Executive Vice President for Trade Policy & Global Affairs Shawna Morris and Nick Gardner, USDEC’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability and Multilateral Affairs are co-chairs of the event, which will draw a global contingent of dairy leaders and experts from over 50 countries to discuss critical issues for the industry including those pertaining to trade, farming practices, processing innovations, emerging technologies, food safety topics, sustainability issues, and other subjects.

In addition to Morris’ Co-Chair role, NMPF’s presence at the Summit will include remarks by NMPF First Vice chairman Simon Vander Woude, NMPF Animal Health and Wellbeing Committee Chairwoman Karen Jordan, NMPF Young Cooperator Chairwoman Lorilee Schultz, NMPF Executive Vice President for Policy Development and Strategy Jaime Castaneda, NMPF Chief Science Officer and Vice President for Sustainability & Scientific Affairs Jamie Jonker, NMPF Sr. Vice President for Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Clay Detlefsen and NMPF Vice President of Global Economic Affairs Will Loux.

NMPF’s Senior Director of Communicators and Outreach Theresa Sweeney-Murphy has organized the IDF World Dairy Summit’s first-ever Young Farmer Roundtable to build on the success of NMPF’s Young Cooperator program by providing networking opportunities specifically targeted at young farmers from around the world. While in Chicago, NMPF will also hold meetings with key dairy allies and counterparts from other markets. In addition, NMPF is joining US-IDF, USDEC, ADPI (American Dairy Products Institute) and IDFA in co-sponsoring the U.S. reception at the summit on Oct. 15.

The FARM team has supported development of several opportunities for international attendees to visit U.S. dairy farms and facilities in Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana, and will also have a booth and staff at the event, which is expected to draw 1,100 attendees. Registration is still open here.

At World Dairy Expo, the annual event in Madison, WI, that’s the industry’s largest trade show, both NMPF and FARM are sponsoring events. The FARM booth will be open throughout the week, and highlighted events included Tuesday’s Mooving Cows Seminar presented by Dr. Jennifer Van Os*; Thursday seminars hosted by NMPF’s Young Cooperators; a session on farm policy featuring Land O’Lakes executive Pete Kappelman and NMPF Chief Operating Officer Gregg Doud; and FARM; discussions on Friday featuring NMPF Young Cooperators and Dairy Girl Network present: Tanbark Talk along with a separate discussion on Career Connections.

FARM, YCs Boost NMPF Visibility at World Dairy Expo

NMPF’s National Dairy FARM Program and Young Cooperators (YC) Program joined industry stakeholders in Madison, Wisconsin Sept. 28-Oct. 2 for the 2021 World Dairy Expo. The annual event, which attracts over 50,000 attendees annually, serves as a forum for dairy producers, companies and organizations to come together to compete, and to exchange ideas, knowledge, technology and commerce.

The FARM Program hosted a panel lunch on Thursday, Sept. 30 in which 50 industry stakeholders, farmers and NMPF staff discussed the newest FARM initiatives, FARM Biosecurity and the Calf Care & Quality Assurance (CCQA). Miquela Hanselman, manager of regulatory affairs for NMPF, introduced the new FARM Biosecurity program area address producer’s biggest concerns in the biosecurity space. Kris Scheider, Wisconsin farmer and vice-chair of the FARM Farmer Advisory Council, talked about farmer involvement in the program and what biosecurity looks like on his farm.

“At the on-farm level we have our vaccines, we have animal identification, and we have two skid steers – one for pushing feed and the other for manure handling,” Scheider said. “There are all these steps we are taking and now were ready for Enhanced Biosecurity.”

Justin Potts, senior manager of Dairy 2025 at Land O’ Lakes talked about the customer concerns in the biosecurity space and how the organizations are approaching calf care considerations.

Josh White, executive director of producer education at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, explained why the CCQA program was developed and what is included within the standards. Dr. Jennifer Van Os, PhD animal welfare assistant professor and extension specialist at University of Wisconsin – Madison, answered questions about pressure points in the calf space and veterinary involvement in the CCQA program.

“We wanted to inform the CCQA recommendations with the latest scientific research and find any pain points within the calf space,” Van Os said. “Those were identified as special needs of calf raisers and animal husbandry.” The recording of the event is available on the FARM Program’s Facebook page.

The National YC Program sponsored a Dairy Cow Productivity Seminar Sept. 29 featuring NMPF’s Peter Vitaliano, Ph.D., vice president of economic policy and market research. And later that day, the program hosted an offsite reception and dinner, offering 30 YCs the opportunity to network with each other and to meet and ask the seminar speaker questions in an informal setting.

FARM to Host Lunch Panel at World Dairy Expo

The National Dairy FARM Program will host a luncheon at World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI on Sept. 30 that will feature a panel discussion from industry stakeholders involved in the newest FARM initiatives, FARM Biosecurity and the Calf Care & Quality Assurance (CCQA). Space is limited and registration for this in-person only event is required.

Panelists for the luncheon include:

  • Josh White, Executive Director, Producer Education, NCBA
  • Kris Scheider, Wisconsin, Foremost Farms Dairy Farmer
  • Jennifer Van Os, PhD, Animal Welfare Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, UW – Madison
  • Justin Potts, Senior Manager, Dairy 2025, Land O’ Lakes.

Visit FARM in the Exhibit Hall at booth EH 4508 where farmers can register to win a pizza party for their employees. NMPF and FARM will sponsor two World Dairy Expo Seminars – Dairy Cow Productivity: More Important to the Profitability of Your Dairy Operation than You Think presented by Peter Vitaliano, Ph.D., Vice President, Economic Policy and Market Research at NMPF and Practical Employee Management Strategies presented by Dr. Robert Hagevoort, Associate Professor and Extension Dairy Specialist, New Mexico State University.