Farm bill remains unresolved

The farm bill came up short in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Farm Bill 2.0 failed to get enough votes to move forward. Differences remain over the handling of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Senate Democrats want a 2-year delay for the states to reduce their SNAP error rates, and the Republican majority is focused on a 1-year delay. The Senate is now on its August recess.

Frustration mounts after ag committee vote

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman is frustrated after the farm bill failed to advance. The Arkansas Republican blamed Democrats for blocking the bill over disagreements involving SNAP cost sharing, saying farmers are paying the price. “Right now, if you’re growing something out of the ground, you’re not making a living. There’s no recognition of that at all on the other side,” Boozman said. “We’ll continue pounding on, and my members are going to go home and talk to everybody that will listen about the inequity of this and how we need to get this done.” Boozman wants the farm community to rise “and say enough is enough.”

Three farm bill extensions; will there be four?

AgCountry Farm Credit Services Vice President of Legislative and Public Affairs Andy Martin says lawmakers need to capitalize on the limited legislative calendar to complete a new farm bill. “There’s not very many legislative days left before the election, when election-year politics can come into play,” Martin told Red River Farm Network. “We’ve had three extensions already; we don’t want to go up to four. We’ve had this one step forward, two steps back. Let’s get this thing across the finish line.”

Election will determine farm bill success if delayed until lame duck

Georgia Congressman Austin Scott is the vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, right behind Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson in the Republican majority. Scott remains optimistic the farm bill will get across the finish line this year: “The one caveat to that would be Senator (Chuck) Schumer; if the Democrats did win (the majority in the November election), I think that he would pull back and not allow the bill to go forward until they had control of the committee.” During Farmfest, Scott said he believes the Republicans will ultimately control the House and the Senate in the next term but admits margins are tight. “We are in the middle of primary season and primaries get a little crazier than general elections sometimes, as you know in Minnesota. But once the primaries are over, there will be an opportunity there.”

Dairy products report released

In the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture Dairy Products Report, total cheese production increased 13.1 million pounds from the previous year. American cheese production was up 5.5 million pounds, and other-than-American cheese production increased 7.6 million pounds from the prior year. Butter production rose 16.4 million pounds, and nonfat dry milk production was up 20.5 million pounds. Skim milk powder production declined 25.2 million pounds in the past year, and dry whey production increased 5.5 million pounds year over year.

Export opportunities for dairy products

U.S. Dairy Export Council President and CEO Krysta Harden says Mexico remains the industry’s strongest market, while Central America, the Caribbean and Indonesia offer additional potential. “We have a lot of demand around the world,” Harden said. “I have to mention Mexico first. It’s our strongest market.” Protein demand is also supporting exports, particularly for cheese and whey. Harden says the U.S. is even exporting butterfat to Australia, traditionally a major dairy-producing country. “We’re just at the tip of the iceberg, in my opinion,” Harden said. “We’ve got great product, we continue to produce, we get more and more efficient, more processing investment, more opportunities for U.S. dairy.” Looking longer-term, Harden sees West Africa as another potential growth market as its population and middle class expand.

Feed industry reviews FDA proposal

The American Feed Industry Association is reviewing proposed Food and Drug Administration changes to the approval process for feed ingredients considered Generally Recognized as Safe, or GRAS. The organization supports efforts to strengthen ingredient oversight while maintaining feed safety and encouraging innovation. AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman says any changes to the GRAS framework must be backed by adequate FDA staffing and resources to ensure animal food ingredients are reviewed efficiently. The AFIA plans to submit comments to the FDA, saying the proposal could affect future feed ingredient approvals, new technology development and the availability of products for livestock producers.

Minnesotans prefer vanilla ice cream

A new University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences insights survey found 48% of Minnesotans said vanilla deserves more respect than it gets. For Gen Z consumers, that sentiment climbs to 60%. According to the survey, 42% of Minnesotans favored mix-ins and toppings; 41% leaned toward vanilla; 28% preferred simple, classic flavors; and 27% voted for chocolate. Meanwhile, the University of Minnesota will soon announce the winning flavor created to commemorate its 175th anniversary. The five finalists are Minnesota Rouse Rhubarb, Wildberry Ramble, Maroon and Gold Rush, North Star Apple Crisp and Father Pillsbury Puritan Pudding.

A membership milestone

The National FFA Organization has reached a new milestone with more than 1.05 million members during the 2025-2026 school year. Membership increased 1.1% from a year ago, with students participating in nearly 9,600 chapters across the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Ag and rural leadership program now in year 26

The Minnesota Agriculture and Rural Leadership Program has announced its 14th class. MARL Executive Director Brad Schlosser is pleased with this diverse group. “We are really delighted to have 27 individuals from across the state of Minnesota that span from 25 years of age to 65 years of age,” Schlosser said. “Five decades of really an awesome cross-section; 19 individuals are farmers. They reach up into the Bemidji, Duluth, Crookston area, down to the Spring Grove, Jackson area, east to west, Red Wing to Wheaton.” The MARL curriculum is designed to enhance the students’ leadership skills.

Woman Farmer of the Year named

At Farmfest, Meg Moynihan Stuedemann of Belle Plaine was named the Woman Farmer of the Year. Stuedemann is an organic dairy farmer and oversees mental health and financial support initiatives for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Trivia challenge

In 2017, a record 730,000 Holsteins were registered. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, what is the most consumed cheese globally? 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.