U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack tried to alleviate concerns from dairy producers impacted by the drought. In a meeting at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C. with the National Farmers Union, Vilsack said passage of a new farm bill will put some new tools in place to help dairy producers, and a new structure will provide greater protections than before. … Read More
NMPF Among Those Urging Rejection of Disaster Bill
The National Milk Producers Federation is part of a coalition of about a dozen agriculture groups urging Senate leaders to “refrain from supporting” any legislation resembling the House-passed disaster bill should it come up in the Senate. The group also includes the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association, the National Association of Wheat Growers, the National Corn Growers … Read More
Milking Parlor: Comments on RFS Waiver Start
The high cost of feed, especially corn with its skyrocketing prices because of this year’s drought, is in the forefront of many dairy producers’ minds. The EPA has opened the comment period for a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard… a waiver that is hoped to reduce the demand for corn and thus reduce the price for corn. The process … Read More
Iowa Begins Testing Milk for Aflatoxins
Concerns over drought-induced aflatoxin in milk has prompted the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey to call for state screening and testing of milk starting today and running indefinitely. This Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship news release says the order requires milk processors to screen all Grade A and Grade B farm bulk milk pickup tankers and farm … Read More
Dairy Groups Join Coalition Calling for Farm Bill Now
A coalition of 39 farm groups, including the National Milk Producers Federation, the United Dairymen of Arizona, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, is calling on Congress to pass a new farm bill before the old one expires at the end of September. The group, Farm Bill Now, has an interactive web portal at www.FarmBillNow.com, that lets you connect with … Read More
Cuomo Wants to Help N.Y. Dairies Grow
Yesterday, N.Y.’s Governor Cuomo held the first “Yogurt Summit” where he announced plans to ease expansion regulations for dairy farmers. Governor Cuomo announced plans that would allow dairies to grow beyond 200 cows without facing a stringent set of regulations. Currently any dairy operation in the state with more than 200 cows must obtain a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) … Read More
Farmers and Ranchers Coalition Backs Romney
Presumptive Republican nominee for President Mitt Romney today announced a coalition of agricultural leaders for his campaign. The Farmers and Ranchers for Romney coalition is chaired nationally by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Ambassador Tom Nassif, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE), and former USDA Acting/Deputy Secretary Charles Conner. “I’m honored … Read More
Milking Parlor: Farm Bill Dairy Debate Moves to House
Last month, we talked about what was in the Senate’s version of the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2012, better known as the Farm Bill. The process moved over to the House, where the bill has a new name, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management or FARRM Act. The debate in the Agriculture Committee focused on an … Read More
Committee, Ag Leaders React to FARRM Bill Passage
It took nearly 15 hours, but members of the House Agriculture Committee were able to pass their version of the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM) Bill. Committee Chair Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ranking Member Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) praised the bipartisan legislation: “This is a balanced, reform-minded, fiscally responsible bill that underscores our commitment to production … Read More
Elimination of Dairy Market Stabilization Program Defeated
An amendment that would have eliminated the market stabilization program for milk pricing in the current Farm Bill has been defeated. Lawmakers in the U.S. House Agriculture Committee this morning debated the measure proposed by Reps. Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia) and David Scott (D-Georgia), which would provide a safety net for dairy producers without requiring them to participate in a supply … Read More