Rollins outlines dairy policy agenda

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s priorities for the dairy industry at the joint meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation, National Dairy Board and United Dairy Industry Association. Rollins focused on four main points: incentivizing dairy consumption with changes to the federal dietary guidelines; lowering production costs; supporting investments in milk processing; and expanding markets. Rollins also spoke about the importance of labor issues in the dairy industry.

‘Well positioned’ for growth

The U.S. dairy industry is “well positioned” for growth. NMPF President Gregg Doud made that point at the joint annual meeting of NMPF, National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and the United Dairy Association. “I love where we are at in this industry right now, folks,” Doud said, noting $11 billion in new dairy-plant investment underway nationwide. “We’re in expansion mode and I love it.” Doud said consumer demand remained strong this past year while dairy farmers were facing a shifting trade environment and labor shortages.

Praise for trade deals

The NMPF is praising the new Trump administration trade deals in Southeast Asia. NMPF Vice President of Trade Policy and Global Affairs Shawna Morris said that’s positive news for the U.S. dairy industry. “The markets down there are really at a dairy deficit,” Morris said. “They need a lot more dairy than their local farms and industry can produce.” Agreements are in place with Malaysia and Cambodia and framework deals were negotiated with Thailand and Vietnam. “Cambodia is totally eliminating the dairy tariff,” Morris said. “Malaysia is eliminating almost all of it, creating access in the few spots where tariffs are going to remain in place.”

IDFA weighs in on trade barriers

The International Dairy Foods Association has submitted formal comments to the U.S. trade representative’s office, providing input for the national annual report on foreign trade barriers. IDFA cited ongoing and emerging trade challenges in key U.S. dairy markets, including Canada, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Algeria and the Dominican Republic. “Trade and global competitiveness are essential to our industry’s success, yet too often, other countries impose barriers that limit how much U.S. dairy can reach global consumers,” said Becky Rasdall Vargas, senior vice president for trade and workforce policy for IDFA.

September milk production report released

Once the government shutdown ended, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released the delayed September milk production report. In the 24 reporting states, milk production increased 4.2% from September 2024. Wisconsin milk output totaled 2.7 billion pounds, up nearly 3% from a year earlier. Wisconsin’s state dairy herd increased by 14,000 head over the past year.

Bring whole milk back to schools

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall believes it is time to reintroduce whole milk to schools. “U.S. milk production is on pace to reach a record high in 2025, but fluid consumption continues to decline,” Duvall said. “Allowing whole milk back into schools would increase demand for butterfat, while providing important ingredients for America’s school children.” The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act would overturn USDA restrictions that limit schools to providing only fat-free or 1% milk.

Dairy checkoff returns

Texas A&M Regents professor Dr. Oral ‘Jug’ Capps Jr. has completed an independent economic analysis of the dairy promotion programs since 2011. Regarding the partnerships with McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Domino’s, the research found an additional 18.5 billion pounds of dairy products were sold at retail, providing $876 million cumulatively to farmers from 2009 to 2024, for a net return of $3.49 on the dollar. Dairy export promotion resulted in 43.5 additional pounds exported per dollar spent, returning $12.17 on the dollar to dairy farmers. Whole-fat science research from 2012-2024 generated 8.2 billion additional pounds sold for a return of $34.55.

DATCP revisits license fee adjustments

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is scaling back its proposed increase in licensing fees after receiving significant feedback from farmers and ag industry groups. Auction barns were facing an increase in licensing fees of nearly 1,700% and truckers were looking at a fee increase of more than 500%. The fees haven’t increased in nearly 20 years. A new fee structure will be announced soon.

EmPower+ launched

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and Farmers for Sustainable Food have launched EmPower+. This program is designed as a data-driven effort to measure, report and verify greenhouse gas emission reductions at the farm level.

New collaboration between UWRF and Burnett Dairy

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Burnett Dairy Cooperative have formed a new partnership. Milk from UWRF’s Mann Valley Farm is being processed at Burnett Dairy Cooperative. The collaboration also supports the university’s Falcon Creamery and UWRF-produced dairy products will eventually be featured in the Burnett Dairy retail stores.

That’s hot

During the NMPF annual cheese and dairy products competition, the top prize went to Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery for its Habanero Ghost Jack.

Rexing succeeds Mooney at NMPF

Indiana dairy farmer Brian Rexing is the new chairman of the NMPF. Rexing succeeds Randy Mooney, who was in that role for 17 years. Associated Milk Producers Incorporated Sheryl Meshke is a member of the NMPF executive committee.

Noll family earns national dairy excellence award

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Program’s Excellence Awards were presented at this past week’s joint annual meeting of the NMPF, UDIA and NDB. One of the four award winners is from the Midwest: Five Star Dairy Farm LLC of Alma, Wisconsin. Curtis, Mark and Scott Noll were recognized for their environmental stewardship. Five Star Dairy Farm is a member of AMPI.

Cooperative Network names new executive director

Ben Nelson has been selected to lead Cooperative Network as the organization’s executive director. Cooperative Network is the largest statewide cooperative trade association in the U.S., representing a diverse and active group of members.

Trivia challenge

Kraft has been the biggest manufacturer of mac and cheese since the 1940s. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, in the holiday movie, “The Polar Express,” the conductor serves what dairy-based drink on the train? 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.