The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) successfully prevented the US Department of Agriculture today from allowing, through private auction, the sale of nonfat dry milk powder at prices below the level specified in the Farm Bill. USDA, facing legal action brought by NMPF, agreed not to submit any of the product for auction. NMPF had sought a Temporary Restraining Order … Read More
NMPF Files Against Selling of Dry Milk Power
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) went to court today in Chicago to prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from undermining the dairy price support program by selling nonfat dry milk powder at levels that will reduce farmers’ milk checks. NMPF is seeking a Temporary Restraining Order to stop the USDA from using a private, third-party company to resell milk … Read More
NMPF Send Comments in Response to EPA
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) joined a coalition of agricultural groups in opposing a tentative plan to tax livestock in order to mitigate the greenhouse gases they emit. In comments submitted in response to an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR), NMPF pointed out the negative consequences that could occur if EPA proceeds to rulemaking with this ANPR. NMPF expressed … Read More
Traces of Melamine Found in U.S.
Traces of the industrial chemical melamine have been detected in samples of top-selling U.S. infant formula, but federal regulators insist the products are safe. The Food and Drug Administration said last month it was unable to identify any melamine exposure level as safe for infants, but a top official said it would be a “dangerous overreaction” for parents to stop … Read More
EPA Proposes “Cow Tax”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in preparation to regulate automobile greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. But first, in order to regulate automobile emissions, EPA has to make a finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health and safety and should be classified as a pollutant. EPA is accepting comments through … Read More
USDA Proposes New Grazing Standards
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proposed stricter grazing standards for cows certified to produce organic dairy products, increasing grazing days to at 120 days a year. Also, thirty percent of the cows’ feed must be from such grazing, rather than being fed organically produced food in a feedlot or an indoor facility. The change, eight years in the … Read More
N.J. Secretary of Ag Resigns
Charles Kuperus, New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture has announced he will resign his post (held since 2002) by the end of the year. Kuperus, 50, of Sussex borough, grew up on a dairy farm and founded his own garden center and nursery. He and his wife, Marge have six children. “Secretary Kuperus has done an outstanding job at the Department … Read More
McCain Campaign Visits World Dairy Expo
We had a kind of impromptu visit by the Wisconsin McCain-Palin Farm and Ranch Team at Expo. Heading up the group of mostly college students was James Harsdorf, a dairy farmer and former WI Sec. of Agriculture. He made an opening statement and then lets a couple of the students talk before answering some questions. One of the questions he … Read More
Straight Talk or Whirl of Change?
Baskin-Robbins is joining in on the 2008 presidential election with two new flavors you can vote on! Straight Talk Crunch or Whirl of Change – which is your “flavorite”? Vote today! Baskin-Robbins said in a press release: “Beginning Sept. 3, Americans can vote for their “flavorite” candidate in any Baskin-Robbins store nationwide or online. Flavor polls will close midnight, Oct. … Read More
New FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Introduced
P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent, working for the magazine Beef Cow-Calf Weekly, reports that Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Judd Gregg (R-NH), and Richard Burr (R-NC) have introduced bipartisan food-safety legislation, “The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act,” that would improve the way that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protects the safety of the food supply. Durbin said, “Over the … Read More