Latest News From National Milk Producers Federation

Three National Young Cooperators share about their journey with training and leadership development that has helped propel them forward.

Last week in Orlando, Fla., NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney spoke about the ongoing challenges dairy farmers face, including the razor-thin operating. Still, Mooney spoke about why he remains optimistic about dairy's future.

NMPF and USDEC praised the announcement from the USDA that it plans to devote $2.3 billion to promoting better market opportunities for U.S. agricultural producers and expanding food aid.

Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, joined the stage at the 2023 International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Chicago. Vilsack said that climate-smart agriculture creates an enormous opportunity for dairy.

Capping a 40-year-plus career, Jim Mulhern, NMPF president and CEO, will retire at the end of this calendar year. Mulhern talks about the future of dairy, immigration reform and passing the baton to Greg Doud..

Launched in 2003, the Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) program is designed to promote the sale of U.S. dairy products to oversee customers and a program that NMPF says moves a billion lbs. of product annually.

The House Agriculture Committee’s Agricultural Labor Working Group has released an online survey. Feedback from farmers and employees is requested to provide insight into dairy’s significant workforce challenges.

NMPF, USDEC and Italian Dairy Association signed an agreement today that increases collaboration as they promote the nutritional benefits of dairy products and support dairy-friendly policies in international forums.

There are 22 proposals for consideration during the Federal Milk Marketing Order system hearing process that will be assembled on Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. EST in Carmell, Ind.

Secretary Tom Vilsack welcomes Xochitl Torres Small on her confirmation as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NMPF and IDFA share the same sentiments, congratulating Torres Small on her confirmation.

The National Milk Producers Federation’s Board of Directors today unanimously voted to name Gregg Doud, a globally recognized agricultural leader, as its next president and CEO.

USDA will soon decide whether to hold a formal hearing and propose changes to dairy's minimum pricing system, which would then require a vote from dairy farmers.

NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern announced he will retire from his position at the end of this year, concluding a decade of service leading the organization and capping a 45-year career.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) has announced that the formal process of modernizing Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO) is now officially underway.

Recently, NMPF president and CEO, Jim Mulhern, spoke to AgriTalk’s host, Chip Flory, about federal milk marketing orders. NMPF has requested a national hearing to amend five pricing provisions under the FMMO.

Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed draft guidance, a group of senators re-introduced bipartisan legislation to combat the unfair practice of mislabeling non-dairy products using dairy names.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Friday new nutrition standards for school meals. Here's what it could mean for dairy.

From labor to rising feed costs, to regulations —the challenges that face dairy farmers are far from small. Three young dairy producers shared their takes on challenges and opportunities that they are presented with.

Called the ‘participation trophy’ group, often the younger generation gets a bad rap. However, younger generations have a lot to offer in terms of technology, fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.

Both NMPF and IDFA issued a joint statement in response to USDA’s proposed changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

For the second month in a row, Dairy Margin Coverage payments will be issued. USDA’s Farm Service Agency announced that September’s DMC income over feed costs calculation to be $8.62/cwt.

Enrollment for the USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) is now open until Dec. 7, 2022. FSA administrator says this year showed why enrolling in DMC makes good business sense. 

Young and exuberant, Katelyn Packard would say that everything kind of fell into place with her role and responsibilities as a sixth-generation dairy farmer in Manchester, Mich.

Both American cheese and butter have been on an upward trend for the last 11 years.

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program has recently launched its open comment survey for the FARM Animal Care Program’s drafted Version 5 standards updates.

Exploring leadership challenges that women encounter as they navigate careers in the dairy industry and prepare for future success was a conversation recently discussed in a recent NMPF Young Cooperator program webinar.

Sometimes when you're working with family, things can get a dramatic at times. Kind of like the Kardashian family. Dr. Rob Skacel shares tips on how to lay a successful foundation when working with family.

The need for workers has the National Milk Producers Federation renewing its call for dairy farms to be given access to the H-2A Ag Guest Work Visa Program.

Michigan dairy farmer, Ashley Kennedy, grabbed the opportunity to have a front-seat voice to testify at the Senate Agriculture Committee’s first hearing committed to the upcoming Farm Bill.

The deadline to enroll for the USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage (SDMC) programs is approaching fast. That deadline for producers to sign up is Friday, March 25, 2022.

From learning more about co-op programs to getting a firsthand experience from other producers about what opportunities they are considering, producer Dustin Brunn says the Young Cooperator experience has been positive.

While feed costs have risen, so have milk prices, therefore no DMC indemnity payment has been triggered. However, producers are being advised to reconsider and sign up for DMC before the March 25th deadline.

Top dairy leaders oppose the bill to legalize the sale of raw milk at dairy farms just passed by the Iowa Senate. If this becomes law, it would be legal to sell raw milk and unpasteurized products.

Enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage and Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage programs has been extended to March 25, 2022. The enrollment for 2022 DMC is currently at 48% of the 2021 program year enrollment.

The USDA’s Ag Prices reported that there will be no Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) payments for December milk. The Income Over Feed Costs calculated to be $9.53/cwt., $0.03 above the maximum coverage level of $9.50.

The strain of the labor pool facing agriculture is evident. At the IDFA Dairy Forum, its President and CEO, Michael Dykes made the prediction that Congress will pass immigration reform in the next five years.

James Weber returned home to his family's vacant farm and began milking 130 Jersey cows in 2014. With a focus on sustainability, the young dairy farmer has been able to thrive in an industry that is anything but easy.

Since day one on the new CEO job with DMI, Barb O’Brien has gone into every conversation with her notepad and her ears open to what farmers have to say. “I want farmers to feel ownership of this program."

Emily Yeiser Stepp, vice president of The National Dairy FARM Program and Dr. Eric Rooker with Dairy Doctors Veterinary Services in Plymouth, Wis., both offer tips to consider when reviewing FARM protocols.

With the signup period for 2022 coverage under USDA’s Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program now underway, producers are eager to see how this spells out in terms of dollars and cents.

USDA announced today that open enrollment for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program will begin Monday, Dec. 13 through Feb. 18. This year’s DMC signup includes enhancements that add more value to producers.

More than 200 workers are now on strike in western New York with Saputo Dairy.

The place we are born can impact our culture—our behavior and how we view the world. Eighty percent of the agricultural workforce speaks Spanish and language is not the only barrier in the U.S.  

Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program will reimburse qualified dairy farmers for 80% of the revenue difference per month based on up to 5 million pounds of milk marketed from July through December 2020.

In a nutshell, the re-evaluation of the Thrifty Food Plan, released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) gives the estimated 42 million SNAP-users more than $36 per month. This payment change begins on Oct. 1.

Like many dairy farms, La Luna Dairy struggles to find enough workers to keep their 1,400-cow dairy humming. Not too long ago it did not matter how many help-wanted ads they put out, they still had vacancies.

The U.S. Trade Representative on Wednesday announced they will initiate official consultations with Canada to examine the country’s Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) obligations.

Dairy industry leaders, Monday, congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and emphasized the bipartisan nature of the industry.

The NMPF page includes topics ranging from fire safety for livestock to on-farm hurricane preparation and the USDA’s Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool.

USDA will accept CFAP applications until September 11.