USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is concerned about adequate funding for the popular Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) Dairy plan of insurance. “Congress makes $20 million a year available for all livestock programs,” says RMA administrator Bill Murphy. “The popularity of the newly-designed dairy program exhausted these funds in March, halfway through the fiscal year.” Murphy says the agency has historically … Read More
New Plate Still Has Dairy Included
You may have heard the news today, regarding the USDA’s announcement of the new MyPlate. This tool is intended to educate Americans about the healthy choices they make regarding their diet. The shape may have shifted from pyramid to plate, but the message remains the same: dairy is an important part of the daily diet, for adults and children alike. … Read More
NCBA Takes Beef with EPA to Social Media
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is turning to social media to get its message out about the Environmental Protection Agency’s potential regulation of coarse particulate matter, more commonly called dust. A new animated video, themed Over Regulation All Across the Nation, was launched today on NCBA’s You Tube channel. NCBA notes that U.S. Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) introduced, with … Read More
Update on Dairy Policy
In a rare turn of events, there seems to be consensus between the U.S. House and Senate agriculture committees about when dairy reform should move through Congress. At least for now, it will remain where it has always been – within the farm bill. In an interview with Agri-Pulse last week, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), chair of the Senate Committee … Read More
Raw Milk Supporters on Capitol Hill
A grassroots “moovement” brought a cow to Capitol Hill this week to support the sale of raw milk. The “Grassfed on the Hill” group gathered at the Capitol to protest the federal government for prosecuting a Pennsylvania Amish farmer for selling fresh, unpasteurized milk across state lines. Grassfed On The Hill is a buying club for raw milk that was … Read More
Project to Study Renewable Energy Production on Dairies
The dairy industry is working on a new national research project designed to “to advance the science and best management practices of renewable energy, environmental stewardship and life cycle analysis of dairy systems and processes.” The joint project between the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy™, the Dairy Research Institute™ and Idaho’s Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) hopes to develop … Read More
USDA Seeks Dairy Board Nominations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture seeks nominations from dairy importers and organizations that represent dairy importers to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. “Through their representation on the Dairy Board, importers will be able to participate in the development of programs to expand demand for dairy products and dairy ingredients in the United States,” said Agricultural Marketing … Read More
EPA News Release on SPCC Rule
As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to make regulations more effective and eliminate unnecessary burdens, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today exempted milk and milk product containers from the Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule, potentially saving the milk and dairy industries more than $140 million per year. This regulation has been in place since the … Read More
Vilsack Proclaims the Importance of Rural America
Speaking at a National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) meeting U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack commented on the importance of rural America, mainly, the farmers. Vilsack says he reminds his urban friends about America’s bargain food prices and asks them “What do you do with that extra 15% in your paycheck? Do you buy a nicer car? Do you live in … Read More
Change to Dairy Imports Lauded
After many years of delay, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is poised to finally apply the long-delayed promotion checkoff on dairy imports, a development hailed by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). NMPF first worked with Congress to include a provision in the 2002 Farm Bill to expand the promotion checkoff to imports, but the expansion was blocked due … Read More