ORGANIZATIONS

IDFA Pleased With SNAP Dairy Incentive Expansion in House Ag Committee Farm Bill

Fri, 24 May 2024 13:55:27 GMT

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee today approved its version of a 2024 Farm Bill. Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), released the following statement on the bill:

“IDFA was pleased to see the House Agriculture Committee’s 2024 Farm Bill expand the SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) to include the full suite of nutritious milk options. Congress created the SNAP HFMI pilot program in the 2018 Farm Bill to test the most effective ways of incentivizing SNAP participants purchase of healthy fluid milk. Since then, HFMI pilots operating under the name ‘Add Milk!’ have been running in more than 700 retail outlets in 19 states, including locations in rural communities, counties with persistently high poverty rates, Opportunity Zones, low-income and low access census tracts, and Tribal Nations and surrounding tribal communities. The program has been very effective in doubling the purchasing power of SNAP participants through the use of electronic incentives. The House Agriculture Committee’s 2024 Farm Bill recognizes this success by expanding the program to incentivize nutritious milk options like 2% and whole milk, and by providing more certain funding to ensure increased access and continued success of the program. IDFA will continue to work with the Committee and industry champions to expand the program to incentivize other nutritious dairy products like cheese and yogurt as provided in the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2023. Ninety percent of Americans do not consume enough dairy to meet the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations. Expanding HFMI into a broader dairy nutrition incentive program will increase access among SNAP participants to a broader array of nutritious dairy products. IDFA urges Congress to ensure these products are included in the final version of the Farm Bill.

“The House Agriculture Committee 2024 Farm Bill makes the Dairy Forward Pricing Program permanent, which would eliminate the gap in forward pricing programs for proprietary plants and their producers that occurs if farm bills are delayed. The bill also allows schools to serve whole milk and reduced fat (2%) milk to students, pursuant to the Chairman’s Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which IDFA has supported. It also mandates biennial cost surveys to ensure make allowances accurately reflect the cost of manufacturing dairy products—a consensus priority across the U.S. dairy industry.

“Unfortunately, the bill also includes a provision that circumvents USDA’s mandate to complete the ongoing Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing process, by restoring the ‘higher-of’ formula for the calculation of the price of Class I (fluid) milk—a policy delegated to USDA via the law. The USDA process to make changes to the FMMO system through a Federal Order Hearing has been under way for well over one year, and USDA will soon announce its proposal for the updated FMMO. IDFA believes Congress should not intervene on one select issue, especially one that is included in the current USDA FMMO Hearing process and one that has significant impacts across all policies in the FMMO and like many of the hearing proposals, affects many parts of the dairy supply chain. IDFA urges Congress to remove this provision as it develops the 2024 Farm Bill and let USDA complete its work on the many equally important updates needed in FMMO price regulations.”

Vilsack and Dairy Leaders Applaud the USDA New Deputy Agriculture Secretary Confirmation

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 15:19:19 GMT

“Xochitl Torres Small has dedicated her career to serving the agriculture industry and the American people, and I have witnessed her lead with energy, authenticity and personal investment that I know will leave an impact on USDA for years to come,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made in a statement on the confirmation of Xochitl Torres Small as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“As the granddaughter of migrant farm workers, Xochitl experienced firsthand the challenges that many producers and rural communities face day in and day out. The hard work and determination she witnessed informs her commitment to public service and her respect for those we serve. Under her leadership, our Rural Development team has made record progress working to drive down energy costs, improve access to high-speed internet, expand processing capacity to help America’s livestock producers attain fairer prices for their work, and provide affordable housing options for rural residents,” Vilsack says. “At this critical time when USDA and the Biden-Harris Administration are laser-focused on mobilizing historic investments to rebuild our economy and secure healthier, more vibrant communities for future generations, I am grateful to have Xochitl’s partnership at the helm of the People’s Department. She has time and again met the moment with a collaborative approach and a can-do spirit, and I applaud Congress for confirming her as USDA’s next Deputy Secretary.”

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) also congratulates the confirmation of Torres Small. In a statement from NMPF president and CEO, Jim Mulhern, he shares:

“On behalf of America’s dairy farmers and their cooperatives, we congratulate Xochitl Torres Small on her Senate confirmation as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Her rich family heritage in agriculture, as well as her career in public service in Congress and at USDA, will bring valuable perspective to the position, and we know she will bring great insight and energy to her new role. We look forward to continuing our work together to tackle the many pressing issues that affect agriculture and our rural communities.”

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), released also shares the same sentiments.

“On behalf of U.S. dairy processors, retailers, and cooperatives working each day to provide nutritious and sustainable dairy foods to people around the world, the International Dairy Foods Association congratulates Ms. Xochitl Torres Small on her historic confirmation as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. The U.S. dairy industry supports more than 3 million jobs across the country and ships a record number of nourishing dairy products to consumers around the world each year,” Dykes says. “As major contributors to the agricultural and national economies, U.S. dairy processors stand ready to work with Deputy Secretary conferee Torres Small as she works alongside Secretary Vilsack to deliver nutrition security, conservation programs, rural development, preferential export access for U.S. businesses, and so much more on behalf of the USDA and its constituents. Her deep experience in government and passion for economic development will benefit all people.”

Since October 2021, Torres Small has served as Under Secretary for Rural Development at USDA. Effective July 14, Rural Development Chief Operating Officer Roger Glendenning will serve as Acting Under Secretary.

Before joining USDA, Torres Small was a United States Representative for the fifth largest district in the country. As a Member of Congress, she served as a member of the House Agriculture Committee, the House Armed Services Committee and as chairwoman of the Oversight, Management, and Accountability Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee. Xochitl was the first woman and first person of color to represent New Mexico’s second congressional district.

Leprino’s Durkin Elected Chair of Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 21:03:59 GMT

Mike Durkin, president and chief executive officer of the Leprino Foods Company, was elected chair of the board of directors of the checkoff-founded Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy at its first meeting of 2023.

Durkin replaces Schreiber Foods Chair Mike Haddad, who served as the Innovation Center’s chair for five years. Durkin joined Leprino in 2011 and has been president and CEO since 2014. He most recently served as secretary of the Innovation Center board and previously chaired its Stewardship Commitment Taskforce.

“This transition begins with our heartfelt appreciation for the tireless commitment, passion and contributions that Mike Haddad provided during his tenure,” said Barbara O’Brien, president and CEO of Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center. “With his deep experience and demonstrated leadership, we are fortunate to have Mike Durkin step into this role as he builds on the legacy and momentum of U.S. dairy’s collective effort. We look forward to his leadership.”

In addition to Durkin’s appointment, the Innovation Center board also elected the following officers:

Vice Chair: Dennis Rodenbaugh, Dairy Farmers of America
Secretary: Brad Anderson, California Dairies Inc.
Treasurer: Jay Bryant, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association
At-large: Sheryl Meshke, Associated Milk Producers Inc.
At-large: Ron Dunford, Schreiber Foods

The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy was established in 2008 by farmers through the dairy checkoff to foster collaboration that progresses the industry’s goal of building a healthy and sustainable future for the dairy community, the people it serves and the planet. The Innovation Center convenes diverse stakeholders and leaders to advance the U.S. dairy community’s positive impact on shared social responsibility and sustainability priorities that include nutrition and health, food security, the environment, animal care, workforce and food safety.

For information about the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, visit www.usdairy.com/about-us/innovation-center