NMPF’s Vice President of Economic Policy and Market Research, Peter Vitaliano, discusses the impact of the updated prevented-plant acreage and the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program on the “Adams on Agriculture” podcast.
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FARM Program Announces New Educational Resources
The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program announced two new manuals and other materials as part of its FARM Workforce Development program area.
The FARM Safety Reference Manual provides straightforward, relevant and useful information on workplace safety and health meant to help dairy owners and employees develop and implement a robust and practical safety program. The FARM Safety Reference Manual is a collaboration between the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, the Idaho Milk Processors Association, and National Milk Producers Federation.
The FARM Human Resources (HR) Reference Manual helps dairy farm owners, managers and other relevant staff develop an on-farm HR program. An effective HR program supports a positive and safe work environment that helps attract and retain a professional, high-quality, and engaged workforce. A downloaded, customizable set of HR templates and a sample Employee Handbook accompany the FARM HR Manual. The manuals can be found here. Spanish-language versions of the manuals and templates will be available soon.
The National Dairy FARM Program launched its newest component last year, gathering expert and stakeholder input from the entire dairy value chain, including farmers, cooperative staff, academics, and other subject matter experts. This input ensures the Workforce Development materials are technically robust and relevant to today’s dairy industry.
FARM Workforce Development demonstrates that the U.S. dairy industry is proactive and passionate about providing safe and thriving work environments.
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce more than two-thirds of all U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers in Washington. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.
Created by NMPF in partnership with Dairy Management Inc, the National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) works with all U.S. dairy farmers, co-ops and processors, to demonstrate to dairy customers and consumers that the dairy industry is taking the very best care of cows and the environment, producing safe, wholesome milk and adhering to the highest standards of workforce development.
NMPF Thanks USDA for Steps to Address Feed Shortage
The National Milk Producers Federation today commended Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for actions intended to provide relief to farmers impacted by significant flooding and rain this spring.
The Department of Agriculture has announced that farmers who planted cover crops on prevented-plant acres will be able to hay, graze, and chop their fields as early as September 1 this year, as opposed to the usual November 1 date, to provide for enough forage for dairy and livestock operations later this year. The Department is also allowing for silage to receive the same treatment this year as haying and grazing.
“This year’s problematic weather and disasters have created a unique set of challenges for dairy producers for whom feed availability is a critical issue,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “We thank Secretary Perdue for taking important steps to ease the feed crisis that farmers are facing in multiple regions of the country.”
NMPF has also endorsed the bipartisan Feed Emergency Enhancement During Disasters Act (H.R. 3183) introduced by Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Angie Craig (D-MN), which takes similar steps to alleviate the feed challenges facing dairy farmers and others in agriculture. NMPF looks forward to working with Congress and USDA to address this challenge.
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.
NMPF’s Castaneda discusses the DMC program
NMPF’s senior strategist, Jaime Castaneda, explains the ins and outs of the new Dairy Margin Coverage program on the “Adams on Agriculture” podcast
NMPF Thanks USDA, Urges Farmers to Sign Up for Dairy-Friendly DMC Program
ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Milk Producers Federation welcomed USDA’s announcement that signup for the long-awaited Dairy Margin Coverage Program will begin June 17, applauding the department’s inclusion of the cost of high-quality alfalfa feed in payment calculations, a boon for dairy farmers facing a fifth year of low prices.
“The DMC provides a stronger safety net for America’s dairy producers, one sorely needed as low prices, trade disturbances and chaotic weather patterns combine to create hardships,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the NMPF. “We have advocated for months that margin calculations must consider the higher feed costs dairy producers pay to properly nourish their livestock. USDA’s decision to include premium and supreme quality alfalfa feed is appropriate and is another win for dairy farmers that will provide additional, crucial aid.”
The 2018 Farm Bill created the new DMC program, which replaces the Margin Protection Program for Dairy. The program protects dairy producers when the difference between the milk prices and feed costs (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount coverage selected by the producer.
Producers may cover up to their first 5 million pounds of annual milk production (equivalent to the production of a 200-cow dairy farm) at a margin of up to $9.50 per hundredweight. Payments under the program will be retroactive to Jan. 1. Calculations already made for the first four months of the year show that producers signing up at the $9.50 level would receive payments for each of the year’s first four months, with total payments well over the already-set annual premium. All producers will be able to access this affordable coverage regardless of size, and larger producers will have access to significantly more affordable $5.00 catastrophic-type coverage.
“We very much appreciate USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue sticking with the department’s pledge to make dairy a priority in Farm Bill implementation,” Mulhern said. “And we again want to express our appreciation to Congressional agriculture leaders who worked together on a bi-partisan basis to deliver these program improvements,” he said.
Mulhern thanked Representatives Collin Peterson (D-MN) and K. Michael Conaway (R-TX), as well as Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), the chairmen and ranking members of congress’s agriculture committees, for their work on creating the DMC. In addition, this spring, Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Stabenow each spearheaded bipartisan letters, co-led by Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), urging USDA to prioritize implementation of the DMC program in a farmer-friendly manner.
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.
NMPF’s Bleiberg on H-2A Legislation
NMPF’s Vice President of Government Relations, Paul Bleiberg, discusses an amendment to make the H-2A farmworker visa program workable for dairy on the “Adams on Agriculture” podcast.
NMPF Applauds Appropriations Subcommittee Passage of H-2A Amendment Aiding Dairy Farmers
ARLINGTON, Va. – From National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern:
“We greatly appreciate the work of Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) on behalf of America’s dairy producers to include year-round employees on farms in the H-2A farm worker visa program.
“The Cuellar-Newhouse amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill would allow farm employers to use the H-2A visa program to hire foreign workers, regardless of whether those employees are engaged in temporary or seasonal work. NMPF and members of its Immigration Task Force have worked on this proposal, which is similar to language offered in the past by Rep. Newhouse and supported by Rep. Cuellar, so that dairy farmers can better use the H-2A visa program to fill year-round needs for year-round workers.
“Dairy farmers have largely have not been able to use H-2A visas because the current program restricts them only to the temporary and seasonal labor needs of agricultural employers. The current H-2A program simply isn’t an option for a commodity that ‘harvests’ its product multiple times a day, every day.
“Creating an additional legal pathway for workers to connect with farm employers deserves bipartisan support, and the history of this legislation shows such support is readily available. It is critical that the government creates a system that provides secure, legal employment. We thank lawmakers for their efforts toward achieving this goal.
“The amendment was added to the House’s version of the Fiscal Year 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations measure. Once the House Appropriations Committee moves to adopt the bill later today, the measure will be considered on the House floor likely this month. The Senate will craft its own version of the bill. NMPF looks forward to working to preserve the amendment in any final House-Senate negotiated measure to be sent to the President.”
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The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce the majority of U.S. milk, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.
FARM’s Fourth Annual Evaluator Conference in July
The 2019 National Dairy FARM Evaluator Conference will be held in Denver on July 23-24th, with optional industry tours on July 25th.
The Evaluator Conference is an annual opportunity for evaluator networking across the country and professional development. This year’s conference attendees will hear from industry experts, leaders and dairy customers about on-farm social responsibility and quality assurance measures including the dairy workforce, environmental stewardship and animal care. New to the conference is a consumer panel focused on dairy buying habits and concerns.
The FARM Town Hall will give attendees the opportunity to discuss program updates, implementation questions and concerns with FARM Staff including the new Animal Care 4.0 standards and a discussion with FARM’s third-party verifier, FSNS. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to attend a Cargill beef plant tour or a Quail Ridge Dairy farm tour on July 25th.
To register or learn more info, visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/farm-evaluator-conference-tickets-60708982200
CWT-assisted sales top 600 million pounds milk equivalent
The 38 contracts Cooperatives Working Together member cooperatives secured in May added 1.9 million pounds of American-type cheeses, 654,773 pounds of butter, 632,727 pounds of cream cheese, and 6.8 million pounds of whole milk powder to CWT-assisted sales in 2018 bringing total milk equivalent for the year to 604 million pounds on a milkfat basis.
These products will go customers in Asia, Central and South America, the Middle East, and North Africa. The product will be shipped May through September.
CWT-assisted 2019 dairy product sales contracts total 26.1 million pounds of cheese, 4.6 million pounds of butter, 2.6 million pounds of cream cheese and 30.2 million pounds of whole milk powder. All this product is scheduled to ship in the first nine month of 2019.
A thriving dairy export sector is critical to the growth and viability of dairy farmers and their cooperatives across the country. Whether or not a cooperative is actively engaged in exporting cheese, butter, anhydrous milkfat, cream cheese, pasteurized process cheese, or whole milk powder, the growth potential in world markets is greater that domestic sales. CWT provides a means to move domestic dairy products to overseas markets by helping to overcome U.S. dairy’s trade disadvantages.
The amounts of dairy products and related milk volumes reflect current contracts for delivery, not completed export volumes. CWT will pay export assistance to the bidders only when export and delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.
All cooperatives and dairy farmers are encouraged to add their support to this important program. Membership forms are available at http://www.cwt.coop/membership.
Tariffs on EU Dairy Products on the Table
NMPF sought to highlight the deep imbalance in U.S.-EU dairy trade by supporting the U.S. Trade Representative’s proposal to impose retaliatory tariffs on European dairy imports if Europe continues to flout its WTO subsidy commitments.
Europe has been found to have doled out unfair aircraft subsidies to Airbus by a World Trade Organization court, with damages to U.S. business of $11 billion, according to U.S. estimates. The WTO is assessing the size of the retaliatory tariffs it is willing to authorize the U.S. to levy against EU exports should the EU not comply with the WTO ruling. USTR anticipates a decision this summer.
European dairy products feature prominently on USTR’s intended retaliation list, a smart move according to National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern.
“We have a unique opportunity to make a big dent in the dairy market access gap we face with Europe,” Mulhern told USTR during testimony on May 15. “Including EU cheeses, yogurt, and butter on this list, as USTR has proposed, is entirely warranted, and we would encourage you to add additional EU dairy-related tariff lines,” he said. Doing so “would bring increased attention to the gross inequities that currently define our dairy trading relationship.”
The United States is currently running a $1.6 billion dairy trade deficit with Europe. A complex web of EU tariffs and nontariff obstacles, including Geographic Indication restrictions, are largely to blame.
“It is essential that America deliver a clear and powerful message across the pond,” Mulhern concluded. “Subsidies and barriers that handicap U.S. businesses in the global marketplace will not be tolerated. And the days of trade deficits induced by unfair trade practices are coming to an end.”
House Agriculture Appropriations Bill Advances NMPF Priorities, Including FDA Labeling Language
The House Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2020 Agriculture-FDA Appropriations measure that passed out of committee in May included multiple items of importance to NMPF.
The bill’s accompanying report included bipartisan language urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to continue with its review of dairy standards of identity so that dairy standards are ultimately enforced. The language gives voice to ongoing concerns that plant-based imitators continue to misuse dairy’s good name on products that are not nutritionally equivalent to milk, cheese, yogurt, butter and other healthy dairy products.
Following related language in the Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations measure urging FDA to act on this critical issue, the agency indeed began a regulatory process to receive public comments and determine how standards would be enforced. NMPF applauds the House Appropriations Committee for making clear congressional intent that it’s time for FDA to follow the law and enforce dairy standards of identity.
The measure also provides $10 million in discretionary funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, an NMPF-backed program authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill to provide grants to extension services and nonprofit organizations to assist producers who are facing greater stress due to the continued downturn in the farm economy.
Finally, the bill makes no cuts to critical conservation programs, which help dairy producers to access technical and financial assistance to carry out multiple conservation practices on their land and water.
The House and Senate are working to reach an overall budget agreement to allow the 2020 Appropriations process to reach a bipartisan conclusion. NMPF will work with Congress to preserve these important provisions in any final measure.
NMPF Backs Bipartisan School Nutrition Bill to Codify Current Options
NMPF is strongly supporting the bipartisan School Milk Nutrition Act of 2019, which would codify into law current milk varieties that schools may offer and reaffirm the longstanding requirements that milk served in schools be fully consistent with the most recent version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
The measure was introduced in the House by Representatives on June 5 by Reps. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA), both senior members of the House Education & Labor Committee, the panel that oversees school nutrition programs. The bill has more than 25 bipartisan cosponsors, including committee members in both parties.
According to the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, American children and adolescents over four years old are not consuming enough dairy to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations. Milk also provides numerous additional health benefits, including stronger and healthier bones, lower blood pressure, and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease.
The bipartisan legislation does not expand the varieties of milk that may be offered in schools but codifies current options into law to provide certainty to schools and school districts and ensure that future generations of milk drinkers are introduced early on to healthy, nutritious dairy products that they will want to drink.
Milk is the leading food source of nine essential nutrients in children’s diets, including calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. A survey of over 300 schools that offered low-fat flavored milk during the 2017-18 school year found that 58% of schools saw an increase in milk sold, and 82% of schools found it easy or very easy to include low-fat flavored milk within their overall calorie maximums.
NMPF looks forward to working with Reps. Courtney and Thompson to work to include this measure in the upcoming child nutrition reauthorization legislation, which Congress is expected to act upon this session.
