Bipartisan coalition wants Canada to deliver on its promises

Over 70 members of Congress have sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, stating that the 2026 review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is a priority for the dairy industry. The letter said the review “represents a critical opportunity to deliver to American dairy farmers, producers and exporters the access to the Canadian market that was originally promised when the agreement entered into force over five years ago.” The law-makers said it is time to close the loopholes and hold Canada accountable to its USMCA commitments.

Dairy represented in USMCA hearing

During a 3-day hearing on the USMCA, National Milk Producers Federation/U.S. Dairy Export Council Executive Vice President of Trade Policy and Global Affairs Shawna Morris asked for more stringent dairy trade enforcement. Morris said Canada continues to manipulate its tariff-rate quota system and undermine U.S. market access. Regarding Mexico, Morris urged the Trump administration to protect common cheese names, such as Parmesan and provolone, in America’s largest dairy market.

Baldwin: farm assistance won’t make farmers whole

The Trump administration is delivering $12 billion in Farmer Bridge Assistance program payments to farmers. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin remains critical. “Trump knows that his trade war is crushing our farmers, and this chaos and hardship is a totally self-inflicted wound,” Baldwin said. “Sadly, this package won’t even be enough to make our farmers and producers whole.”

Rollins: tariffs are not the reason for Farm Bridge Assistance

The new Farm Bridge Assistance program has been described as a way to support farmers hurt by high tariffs and the trade war with China. During an appearance on CBS, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the issue goes deeper than that. “What we found is that actually all of these tariff and trade renegotiations have not, in fact, compromised our farmers in this farm economy,” Rollins said. “What has really compromised them was the skyrocketing of in-puts under the last administration and the fact that there were no new trade deals, and we went from a trade surplus in 2020 to a $50 billion agriculture (trade) deficit after the four years of Biden.”

Farmers need more than short-term relief

National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said farmers are entering the new year with hope but also with significant uncertainty. “We’re hoping for a more stable 2026, but we have huge challenges that we need to overcome,” Larew said. “We’re finally getting the farm aid package out of the White House, but is that enough?” Larew pointed to early reactions following the announcement, noting that calls for additional assistance surfaced almost immediately. Larew also emphasized the importance of completing a new farm bill in the coming year. “One of the things that could help farmers out even more heading into next year would be if we could finally get that farm bill completed,” Larew said. “The fact is, existing programs are not really meeting today’s needs.”

Supply, demand numbers updated

In the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture supply and demand report, the 2025 milk production forecast was left unchanged at 231.4 billion pounds. The estimate for 2026 milk output declined slightly to just over 234 billion pounds. Exports for 2025 rose, with U.S. butter and cheese markets remaining price competitive in global markets. 2026 exports are projected to decline due to less global demand for butter.

Dairy checkoff focused on immediate results

According to Dairy Management Inc. President/CEO Barbara O’Brien, the dairy checkoff is increasingly conscious about listening to farmer input regarding the dairy checkoff investment. “Farmers have been clear: They want to see short-term returns,” said O’Brien. “Sixty-five to-75% of an annual budget is focused on short-term, in-year results, where we are driving immediate sales through partnerships, e-commerce campaigns, where we can hold up direct sales impact.”

Keys to join IDFA staff in January

Fountain, Minnesota, native Chelsie Keys has been named the senior vice president of government relations for the International Dairy Foods Association. Keys succeeds Dave Carlin, who announced his retirement earlier this year. For the past 10 years, Keys has been on the policy staff for the Senate Agriculture Committee. “I want to thank Chairman (John) Boozman and Chairman (Pat) Roberts before him for the opportunity to serve in leadership roles on the Senate Agriculture Committee,” Keys said. “Working for the committee has been the honor of my life.”

Longtime DFA leader passes

Funeral services will be held Dec. 27 for Gary Hanman. Hanman, 91, helped establish Dairy Farmers of America in 1998, bringing together four dairy cooperatives into a single entity and growing it into the nation’s largest dairy co-op. Hanman served as DFA’s first president and CEO and served until his retirement in 2005.

Former lawmaker receives distinguished service award

Former State Senator Joan Ballweg was recognized with the Distinguished Service to Wisconsin Agriculture Award during the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. WFBF honored Ballweg for her work on rural broadband expansion, the Farmland Preservation Program and agricultural transportation.

Wisconsin Farm Bureau honors Wilfert

Kelly Wilfert has been honored with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Agriculturalist’s Outstanding Agriculture Professional Award. Wilfert is the state farm law outreach specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Farming for the future

At the Wisconsin Farm Bureau convention, Stephanie Abts of Coleman received the Farming for the Future Award. This award recognizes young farmers “leading with clear vision in their communities, Farm Bureau and beyond.”

Konder to compete at American Farm Bureau Federation convention

The winner of the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Agriculturist Discussion Meet is Kirsten Konder of Star Prairie. Konder teaches agriculture and technology at the Amery school district. Konder will represent Wisconsin Farm Bureau at the American Farm Bureau Federation discussion meet in January.

Trivia challenge

The American tradition of leaving milk and cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve began during the Great Depression in the 1930s. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, what is the oldest cow in recorded history? We’ll have the answer in our next edition of the Dairy Star.

Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two sons, Tony and Sam, and five grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.