International Dairy Foods
Association President and CEO Michael Dykes gave his annual
state-of-the-industry speech to the Dairy Forum in California. One of his
highlights focused on the unity between dairy producers and processors. The
Hagstrom Report says that unity that has led to joint positions on the upcoming
farm bill, as well as the Trump Administration’s strong advocacy for dairy in
the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Jim Mulhern, National
Milk Producers Federation CEO, says, “This is the first time my career that
producers and processors have been united for a farm bill. It’s the first time
in living memory that Congress won’t have to choose between one side or
another. That’s a real accomplishment.” The goal of their collective efforts is
to help make way for a new farm bill that will improve the Margin Protection
Program for dairy farmers while enhancing risk management options for
processors. At the same time, they’d like to improve nutrition and build
domestic demand through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The
House recently included provisions to help the nation’s dairy farmers in the
disaster bill put together to aid hurricane victims. That bill is currently
under consideration in the Senate.
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