NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION
Lobbying for NATIONAL MILK PRODUCERS FEDERATION · Develop and carries out policies that advance the well-being of dairy producers and co-ops
Supported efforts to update the Dairy Margin Coverage program's production history calculation to make it more reflective of current on-farm milk production. This fix was included in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (H.R. 8467 in 118th Congress) as well as in both of the Senate Democratic and Republican farm bill frameworks. Child Nutrition - NMPF is monitoring and educating Congress on the effects of child nutrition legislation and programs for dairy farmers, cooperatives, and consumers. NMPF supports efforts to protect and increase kids' access to dairy through nutrition programs, including: *Expanding the varieties of milk allowed in school meal programs, including the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act (H.R. 649, S. 222). *Continuing the requirement that dairy alternatives provided in nutrition programs be nutritionally equivalent. *Maintaining/increasing the amount of dairy WIC participants can access through the WIC program. NMPF supports H.R. 1813 to reverse the dairy reduction from the 2024 WIC foods package rulemaking. *Increasing access to universal school meals/make it easier for schools to meet requirements to qualify for Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Additional Nutrition Policy Areas - Supported the Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program Act (H.R. 2496, S. 1021) and advocated for keeping nutrition in the next Farm Bill. Advocated that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans rely on sound science. Opposed efforts to limit food choice under SNAP. Supported the Fair Milk Pricing for Farmers Act to require USDA to conduct mandatory plant cost studies (H.R. 295, S. 581). Supported the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives grant program, including efforts to expand the program H.R. 985 and S. 420. Oppose efforts to limit, alter, or further regulate commodity checkoff programs, including opposing the OFF Act (S. 557 and H.R. 1249 in 118th Congress) and opposing amendments to appropriations measures that would limit, alter, or further regulate commodity checkoff programs. Supported implementation of the disaster assistance provisions of the American Relief Act (PL 118-158).
Provided information related to the following issues: Opposed misuse of Geographical Indications by European Union to impede trade and supported robust US tools to combat misuse of IP regulations in ways that restrict generic terms Advocated on the need to pursue new trade agreements and enforce existing ones Impacts on dairy industry of trading partner retaliation, current and potential Advocated for legislative and administration solutions to alleviate supply chain congestion hindering U.S. dairy exports Advocated on various bilateral trade issues impacting US dairy exports through regulations/policies in foreign markets Advocated against increasing reliance on foreign infant formula supply and for measures to further strengthen US production capacity. Advocated for continued funding for international food and nutrition assistance.
Food, Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) - Supported funding for this system to provide the industry with information on how to avoid drug, pesticide, and environmental contaminant residue problems. Mandatory Animal ID - Supported steps to make this mandatory. Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment - Opposed legislation to avoid "overuse or misuse" of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture due to inappropriate limitations on needed antibiotics. Nonambulatory cattle - Monitored efforts to address animal handling, especially nonambulatory cattle regulations and procedures. Antibiotic Residue - Monitored and provided information relating to efforts to expand the scope of testing for antibiotic residues in animal tissues and milk. Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Vaccine - Support steps to modernize North America FMD vaccine bank to support vaccine use strategies in the event of a U.S. outbreak. Animal Rights Mandates - Opposed efforts to enact animal rights mandates via federal legislation. Raw Milk Sales - Opposed efforts facilitating the sale of raw milk. H5N1 - Supported the development of safe and effective H5N1 vaccinations for dairy cows to help mitigate the circulation of H5N1 in dairy herds. Also supported legislative efforts to provide additional funding to support on-farm biosecurity initiatives. New World Screwworm - Supported the allocation of resources to help USDA combat NWS advancements to the southern border from Mexico. Supported the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2025 (H.R. 3915).
Advocated for Fiscal Year 2025 funding of 2018 Farm Bill programs, including the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, the Dairy Business Innovation program, conservation programs, broadband, and food aid. Supported dairy provisions of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Reconciliation legislation. Supported riders on the Homeland Security Appropriations bill to expand the H-2A visa program for temporary agricultural workers to include dairy farms.
EPA Clean Water Rule - Supported efforts to finalize an effective, science-based rulemaking under the Clean Water Act.
EPA clean water rule - Supported efforts to finalize an effective, science-based rulemaking under the Clean Water Act. Conservation - Supported funding for farm bill conservation programs in FY 2025 appropriations process. Supported administrative actions to provide greater opportunity for dairy farmers to access EQIP and CSP. Feed additives - supported the Innovative FEED Act (H.R. 2203, S. 1906) to codify a regulatory pathway for reviewing animal feed ingredients that can reduce enteric methane emissions. Rendering - supported efforts to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to revise its recent ranking of waste management technologies (Wasted Food Scale) to re-include rendering and acknowledge the important role rendering plays in the recycling of agricultural and commercial organic wastes in the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and the Wasted Food Scale.
Anaerobic Digestion - Supported efforts at USDA to ensure existing Farm Bill energy programs provide adequate opportunities for the development of anaerobic digestion systems on dairy farms. Support efforts to expand flexibilities in and access to USDA's Rural Energy for American Program (REAP) while providing additional investments to help more farmers take advantage of the program. Supported RFS Electricity Pathway to make biogas eligible as a renewable fuel. Supported work to the development of the 45z tax credit revisions included in 2025 budget reconciliation to use sound science in developing a negative carbon intensity score for cattle manure used in biogas production.
Immigration Reform - Worked on efforts to reform immigration rules relating to agricultural workers. NMPF supports legislative efforts to ensure that dairy farmers can keep their existing workforce while also creating an effective mechanism to allow them to access new workers, including the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 3227) as well as an amendment adopted to the Fiscal Year 2026 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to improve access to H-2A. NMPF also advocates for ensuring there are ag labor reforms either before or in conjunction with any other immigration reforms that may target farming operations as places of employment.
Labeling - Ensured food labeling is based on sound science. Dairy Standard of Identity - Supported efforts to require FDA to enforce the standard of identity for dairy products, including supporting the DAIRY PRIDE Act (S. 549 & H.R. 1462 in 118th Congress) and urging that FDA guidance require product labeling to follow existing dairy standards of identity. Food Safety - Monitored implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act. Raw Milk Sales - Opposed efforts facilitating the sale of raw milk. Natural Cheese - Supported the CURD Act (H.R. 1394, S. 184) to codify a definition for natural cheese.
Estate tax - Supported efforts to reform and repeal estate taxes. NMPF has also supports efforts to maintain and improve the Section 48 investment tax credit for methane digesters by also making eligible those technologies that remove nutrient particles from manure, including supporting the Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act (H.R. 536) to extend the current credit for another year. NMPF also supports implementation of the Hydrogen 45V tax credit in a manner that allows renewable natural gas to be used as a hydrogen feedstock. Supported efforts to ensure that farmers can continue to use cash accounting. Supported continuation of the Section 199A tax deduction for agricultural cooperatives, including supporting the Main Street Tax Certainty Act (H.R. 703, S. 213). Supported relevant tax provisions of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Reconciliation legislation.
Supported efforts to provide relief for dairy farmers and milk haulers from truck weight limitations and hours of service rules, including the SHIP IT Act (H.R. 471 and H.R. 3372 in 118th Congress). Supported implementation of the DRIVE Safe Act to address the ongoing driver shortage facing many industries. Supported implementation of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to reduce congestion and disruption at ports.
Supported efforts to provide relief for dairy farmers and milk haulers from truck weight limitations and hours of service rules, including the SHIP IT Act (H.R. 471 and H.R. 3372 in 118th Congress). Supported implementation of the DRIVE Safe Act to address the ongoing driver shortage facing many industries. Supported implementation of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act to reduce congestion and disruption at ports. Supported the Reliable Rail Service Act (S. 2104) to provide statutory clarity and enhanced oversight of the Surface Transportation Board to correct the rail transportation challenges faced by the U.S. dairy industry.