We’ve heard about the various damage reports to Florida crops from Hurricane Irma, but when it comes to the dairy industry in the state, there have been reports of damage to dairy buildings but no major losses of livestock. But the numbers are by no means near ready yet. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman talked with Florida Dairy Farmers Industry Relations …
Young Producer’s Perspective on the Dairy Business
It’s a life of high risk and high reward. Dairy farmers face their share of challenges, including a volatile market and unpredictable input costs — however, there are young people looking for ways to return to the business. The nation’s milk case depends on it. So says Andy Birch, a 30-year-old dairyman and owner of Maple Grove Farm in Derby, …
New Option for Dairy Margin Protection Program
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds dairy producers you can now enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue utilized additional flexibility this year by providing dairy producers a new option. This option allows you to opt out of the program for 2018. In order to opt out, a producer should not sign up during the …
Ag Groups Applaud Dairy MPP Exit Announcement
American Farm Bureau Federation The following statement may be attributed to Zippy Duvall, president, American Farm Bureau Federation: “The American Farm Bureau Federation is pleased by the announcement by the Agriculture Department to allow dairy farmers to exit the Margin Protection Program for dairy producers. Dairy farmers need access to effective risk management tools. Farm Bureau and our grassroots members …
Dairy Producers Can Enroll for 2018 Coverage
Secretary Allows Producers to Opt Out The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that starting Sept. 1, 2017, dairy producers can enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). Secretary Sonny Perdue has utilized additional flexibility this year by providing dairy producers the option of opting out of the program for 2018. “Secretary Perdue …
Dairy Farmers Launch “Peel Back the Label” Campaign
Expose Deceptive Front-of-Package Food Labeling, Highlight Need for Responsible Food Marketing As food manufacturers increasingly turn to fear-based food labeling to prop up profits and consumers face more confusion in the grocery aisles, America’s dairy farmers launched “Peel Back the Label,” a new campaign to highlight this troublesome trend and stress the need for truth and transparency in food marketing. …
Altering Dairy Food Labeling Rules Would Cause Further Confusion
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should reject a petition filed by the Good Food Institute (GFI) that would undermine federal standards of identity for food and sanction existing misleading marketing tactics of imitation dairy products, the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) said in comments filed. In the latest salvo over the proper use of long-standing dairy food terms, the …
U.S. and Mexican Dairy Industries Make United Call
The U.S. and Mexican dairy industries released a unified list of priorities today that includes modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to solidify their strong dairy market partnership, and addressing concerns about Canadian and European dairy policies. A list of nine shared priorities was agreed upon Thursday at a second annual summit meeting here between leaders of the …
New Food Labeling Regulation in Development by USDA Should Not Disparage Biotechnology, Mislead Consumers
As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepares to develop a regulatory standard for the labeling of bioengineered food ingredients, it must ensure that consumers receive clear, accurate information about the foods they eat, according to the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). In comments filed with USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service, NMPF said it supports a strict, science-based approach in determining how foods …
Time is Running Out to Enter Cattle for WDE 2017
Owners of North America’s finest dairy cattle are encouraged to enter their lineup for the 2017 World Dairy Expo Dairy Cattle Show by 11:59 p.m. (CDT) August 31. While late online entries continue to be accepted through September 10, entry fees increase on September 1. After September 10, only paper entries will be honored up to the day of the …