About Us
Established in 1916 and based in Arlington, Virginia, the National Milk Producers Federation carries out policies that advance the well-being of dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of dairy farmers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies.
For more than 100 years, NMPF has been one of the country’s most recognized and influential membership organizations. Advocating policies determined by its members, the positions expressed by NMPF are the result of grassroots work by dairy farmers and their cooperatives on national policy.
2025 TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Secured funding to support farmers who suffered natural disaster losses in 2023 and 2024, ensuring economic relief for affected operations.
Spearheaded the dairy industry’s response to the H5N1 outbreak, collaborating with government agencies, leading human and animal health experts and dairy organizations to develop and disseminate relevant information.
Led efforts to eliminate unfair restrictions on U.S. dairy exports, advocating for fair trade policies and expanding market access in regions critical to industry growth, including Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.
Led successful advocacy efforts that resulted in the first major FMMO update in decades, improving milk pricing transparency and fairness for farmers.
Reinforced the importance of dairy in healthy diets and advocated for its continued inclusion in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
You may notice some repetition in this year’s annual report.
Our member-led successes in Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) modernization are discussed in our Economics and in our Government Relations sections. Our industry leadership in the response to H5N1 in dairy cattle, to cite another example, is detailed in our Regulatory Affairs, FARM Program and Reaching Out sections.
That’s because achievements at NMPF are team efforts. When challenges cut across multiple swaths of our industry, we address them from every angle that’s needed. Milk pricing, for example, is a bedrock of dairy economics as well as a central policy challenge. Avian influenza in dairy cattle affects herd health, farm operations and consumer confidence. We recognize that—and working with our members and our industry, we collaborate for effective solutions.
2024 brought long-awaited successes and unexpected challenges. 2025 promises to be a similarly critical year for dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own. Thank you for your own leadership, and thank you for reading this report.
Gregg Doud President and CEO, NMPF
“When challenges cut across multiple swaths of our industry, we address them from every angle that’s needed.”
Gregg Doud NMPF President and CEO
LANDMARK UPDATES TO FMMO FINALIZED
KEY ADVANCES Economics
Put finishing touches on successful FMMO analysis and response.
Supported more than 1.6 billion pounds milk equivalent of dairy product exports through management of Cooperatives Working Together.
Spearheaded new “State of the Industry” forecast report with Dairy Management Inc.
NMPF achieved a major victory for dairy farmers with the successful conclusion of FMMO modernization, aligning USDA’s final decision with key proposals that enhance milk pricing.
FMMO Brings Dairy a Win
The years-long FMMO modernization effort concluded in January as dairy farmers and their cooperatives nationwide approved USDA’s final decision, which aligns closely with NMPF’s initial proposal. Highlights of the final decision include:
• A return to the “higher-of” Class I mover, a top priority of NMPF, with a carve-out for a new Class I mover for extended shelf-life products
• Updating the Class III and IV manufacturing allowances for cheese, butter, nonfat dry milk and dry whey, and the butterfat recovery factor
• Updating the Class I differential values to reflect the increased cost of servicing the Class I market
• Updating the skim milk composition factors, with implementation delayed six months until Dec. 1; and
• Removing 500-pound barrel cheddar cheese prices from the Dairy Product Mandatory Reporting Program survey.
NMPF economists and the organization’s FMMO task force efforts to get the final rule over the finish line included submitting final hearing briefs in April, comments to USDA following the recommended decision and engaging with farmers and members on what the final changes would mean for milk checks.
Much of the credit for the incredible effort on Federal Orders belongs to Dr. Peter Vitaliano, who retired at the end of 2024 leaving behind a solid foundation. In his nearly 40 years with NMPF, Dr. Vitaliano has served as a leading expert on dairy economics and policy, with contributions too many to number.
ENHANCED MILK PRICING
achieved as dairy farmers and their cooperatives nationwide approved USDA’s final FMMO decision.
PICTURED ABOVE: An employee working at United Dairymen of Arizona’s manufacturing plant.
PICTURED LEFT: Tom Oberhaus, a Wisconsin dairy farmer and Prairie Farms member-owner, greeting a few of his Brown Swiss and Guernsey cows.
PICTURED ABOVE: Peter Vitaliano, NMPF’s longtime chief economist, shared insights on the FMMO modernization process at World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI.
PICTURED RIGHT: Wisconsin dairy farmers Matt and Paul Lippert, Foremost Farms member-owners, milking cows at Grass Ridge Farm.
Joint Economics Leads in Insight
In addition to FMMO work, the team provided valuable insights and analysis on dairy market conditions both domestically and abroad. The team in 2024 wrote more than 65 reports and market intelligence publications for NMPF members and delivered more than 100 presentations to industry audiences.
The year’s flagship report was the team’s State of the Industry report developed in collaboration with Dairy Management Inc., the U.S. Dairy Export Council and the McCully Group. The report provides a detailed forecast on the future of the U.S. dairy industry to 2030, outlining trends in milk production, dairy processing investment, domestic consumption and the global market. Members can expect more information and webinars on the report in 2025.
CWT Sets Record Year
The Cooperatives Working Together Program also helped support the industry through a record volume of CWT-assisted export sales in 2024. CWT member cooperatives secured 981 contracts representing 127.8 million pounds of American-type cheese, 3.1 million pounds of butter, 1.7 million pounds of anhydrous milkfat, 41 million pounds of whole milk powder and 9.5 million pounds of cream cheese— roughly 1.67 billion pounds on a milk-equivalent basis.
981
1.67B Pounds
Contracts Of milk-equivalent export sales.
Secured in 2024 by CWT member cooperatives.
Government Relations
DELIVERING BIPARTISAN WINS
KEY ADVANCES
Obtained naturaldisaster aid to compensate farmers.
Won bipartisan congressional support to restore “higher of” Class I mover formula. Successfully advocated for FDA authorization of Bovaer.
NMPF’s advocacy secured key wins for dairy farmers in 2024, including farm bill provisions supporting milk pricing transparency, disaster relief and whole milk access,
while
driving sustainability advancements and strengthening disease preparedness initiatives.
Farm Bill Progress Showcases Broad Support for Dairy Needs
NMPF’s 2024 government relations work positioned dairy as a force for consensus in the farm bill while notching conservation and sustainability gains.
Congress took important steps in 2024 to pave the way for finishing its farm bill this year. The House Agriculture Committee’s farm bill and the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Democratic and Republican farm bill frameworks each bore NMPF’s imprint after months of successful, strategic advocacy.
All three proposals included critical language to require USDA to conduct mandatory dairy manufacturing cost surveys every two years, which would give all dairy stakeholders better data to inform future milk pricing discussions. All three also reauthorized the Dairy Margin Coverage safety net and updated the program’s production history calculation to better reflect recent on-farm production levels.
Building on NMPF’s 2023 success in securing House passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson, R-PA, included his whole milk legislation in the House farm bill. Now-Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-AR, also included the bipartisan measure in his framework.
PICTURED ABOVE: Georgia dairy farmer and Southeast Milk Inc. member Jeb Johnson met with Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-GA, during his visit to Washington, D.C.
PICTURED LEFT: Oregon dairy farmers Molly and Curtis Gomes, and Marika Cowan, visited with Senator Ron Wyden, D-OR, accompanied by NMPFʼs Theresa Sweeney-Murphy.
PICTURED ABOVE: Dairy Farmers of America members Brian and Felicia Colbenson met with Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-WI, on Capitol Hill.
PICTURED RIGHT: Matt Hoff, owner of Coldsprings Farm in Maryland and a member-owner of Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, checking his cover crop.
NMPF also worked with several of dairy’s congressional champions in voicing support to restore the “higher of” Class I mover formula in the farm bill, a move superseded by USDA’s adoption of it in its January FMMO decision.
Along with the one-year farm bill extension Congress passed last December, NMPF supported disaster assistance for farmers who suffered natural-disaster losses in 2023 or 2024. NMPF is grateful to Rep. David Valadao, R-CA, for securing relief for livestock producers from flood-related damages California dairy farmers endured in 2023 due to livestock relocation, shelter-in-place and feed crop losses. The bill also allows USDA to provide support in the form of block grants to states, a priority for southeastern producers recently impacted by devastating hurricanes.
Positive Steps Made on Sustainability Work
Years of proactive NMPF efforts paid off last May when the Food and Drug Administration announced that it had completed its review of the Bovaer feed additive and granted Elanco Animal Health, its U.S. sponsor, the right to market the product for use in lactating dairy cows—a milestone in NMPF’s years-long advocacy for enteric-reducing solutions through a product with a proven track record of reducing emissions.
NMPF will continue to seek enactment of the bipartisan Innovative FEED Act to provide FDA with clear authority to review similar future products as foods, not as drugs.
$60M Additional funds
Committed by USDA for innovative on-farm feed and manure management projects.
As Bovaer headed to market, NMPF urged USDA to provide additional resources to dairy farmers and their cooperatives under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which funds locally led partnerships to boost proactive environmental stewardship efforts. Following NMPF’s advocacy, USDA announced in October another $60 million to support member cooperatives in undertaking innovative on-farm feed and manure management projects from coast to coast.
LONG-AWAITED SUSTAINABILITY WIN
After years of NMPF advocacy for entric-reducing solutions, FDA authorized Bovaer feed additive to go to market.
Regulatory Affairs
ADVANCING SCIENCE-BASED POLICIES
KEY ADVANCES
Secured three cooperative grant agreements to advance industry-wide disease preparedness.
Fended off threats to dairy’s central role in American diets in the federal scientific review of U.S. dietary guidelines.
Led a successful push for FDA to exempt Grade “A” cottage cheese from additional traceability records requirements.
NMPF protected dairy’s place in U.S. dietary guidelines, advocated for clear labeling standards to inform consumers and supported balanced FDA policies that recognize dairy’s unique nutritional value.
NMPF Champions Dairy in Diets
NMPF worked throughout 2024 to protect Americans’ access to dairy and advocated for dairy on multiple FDA proposals.
NMPF underscored the key role dairy plays in American diets in comments submitted July 26 to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee as it reviewed scientific evidence before making its recommendations to USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The dietary guidelines affect government policies in numerous ways, such as guiding which types of milk can be served in school meal programs and setting parameters for how nutrition programs are implemented and developed. NMPF also created a call-to-action campaign that allowed its members and any other interested parties to easily share their support for dairy with the committee.
Along with protecting dairy in the dietary guidelines, NMPF continued its fight for FDA to uphold and enforce its Standards of Identity for dairy foods. SOIs help ensure clear and accurate labels in the interest of consumer understanding. Terms such as “yogurt,” “cheese,” “butter” and others have distinct meaning in the minds of consumers and often reflect information about a product’s nutritional composition.
PICTURED ABOVE: Whole milk being processed and bottled at one of Dairy Farmers of Americaʼs fluid milk plants.
PICTURED LEFT: Frank Wolf, a Dairy Farmers of America farmer-owner in Texas, sampling milk.
The dietary guidelines affect government policies in numerous ways, such as guiding which types of milk can be served in school meal programs and setting parameters for how nutrition programs are implemented and developed.
NMPF has repeatedly shared with FDA its concerns over consumer information found in plant-based alternatives labeling.
NMPF also emphasized to FDA the need for a realistic and balanced approach to reducing added sugars. NMPF’s comments, which supported the agency’s overall goal to improve healthful eating in the United States but urged for added sugars reductions to be voluntary, were a follow-up to an FDA listening session in which NMPF participated.
FIGHTING FALSE AND MISLEADING LABELING
NMPF continues to share with FDA its concerns over consumer information found in plant-based alternatives labeling.
FDA issued draft guidance Aug. 15 for new voluntary targets for sodium reduction in foods that build on the final voluntary sodium reduction goals issued in 2021 as part of a campaign to reduce dietrelated diseases associated with high levels of sodium. NMPF has repeatedly raised the importance of sodium to the cheesemaking process to keep the product safe and prevent microbial growth in conversations with FDA.
NMPF in September supported FDA’s proposed exemption for Grade “A” cottage cheese from additional traceability records requirements. The exemption will reduce the record-keeping burden on Grade “A” cottage cheese manufacturers who are already meeting the highest standards set by the Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance and regulated by the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments.
NMPF Defends Against EPA Restrictions
NMPF pushed back on multiple overly restrictive proposals and final regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Air emissions reporting under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) is a longtime battle.
NMPF in February filed comments and joined with other agriculture groups in coalition comments to EPA’s Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking weighing in on the reporting of air emissions from manure under EPCRA, asserting that reporting would invade farmers’ privacy and put them at risk of activist-group targeting.
NMPF and other agriculture groups strongly oppose any policy that involves making rodenticides restricted-use products. NMPF strongly supported enhancing rodenticide stewardship to mitigate risks to non-target species and raised concerns about the effectiveness of EPA’s “Draft Biological Evaluation for the Rodenticides and the Rodenticide Strategy.” NMPF also joined a broad coalition of agriculture groups raising concerns about EPA’s draft insecticide policy, which would threaten the vital tool used by producers.
PICTURED ABOVE: Dairy cows at a feed bunk in Californiaʼs Central Valley.
PICTURED LEFT: Butter manufacturing at one of Associated Milk Producers Inc.’s plants.
PICTURED ABOVE: Appropriate protective clothing for visitors is among the recommended biosecurity best practices on dairy farms.
PICTURED RIGHT: Dairy cattle at a Colorado dairy farm.
NMPF Leads on H5N1, Advances Preparedness
Even before USDA confirmed Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (H5N1) on dairy farms last March 25, NMPF jumped into action, leading industry communication efforts and working closely with federal and state partners to share updates and guidance as it became available. NMPF participated in weekly and daily standup calls with various working groups to help shape FDA and USDA policies dealing with H5N1 in dairy cattle and dairy products.
PREPAREDNESS GRANTS SECURED
Three grants gained for H5N1 response and to advance industry disease preparedness.
NMPF assembled a technical committee made up of key stakeholders including dairy producers, veterinarians, and state and federal partners Sept. 4–5 in Arlington, VA, to discuss the biggest dairy industry-related challenges posed by H5N1. The workshop was funded in part through a USDA grant to bring together stakeholders for H5N1 discussions and recommendations. The discussions from the workshop, as well as earlier meetings and surveys of the technical working group, will be used to inform a series of reports outlining recommendations for the industry.
NMPF also secured two grants from the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program to advance industry-wide disease preparedness. One grant will be used to expand FARM Biosecurity Program resources, including an in-person enhanced biosecurity training. The other grant will be used to develop a white paper on the implementation of a foot-and-mouth disease diagnostic assay using bulk tank milk samples to provide herdlevel disease surveillance in the event of an FMD outbreak.
NMPF led industry communication efforts and worked closely with federal and state partners to share H5N1 updates and guidance.
Taking on H5N1
Led industry communication and coordination, engaging with USDA, FDA and state agencies to provide timely guidance and shape policies related to H5N1 in dairy cattle.
Provided real-time updates, expert insights and critical support to dairy farmers and cooperatives throughout the outbreak.
Developed key H5N1 testing and surveillance materials, including biosecurity protocols for dairy farmers and guidance on bulk tank milk testing for regulatory officials.
Promoted the FARM Biosecurity Program as a critical tool for dairy farmers, garnering over 20,000 visits to its resources and training.
Secured three grants for H5N1 response and to enhance dairy disease preparedness.
Trade Policy
ADVOCATING FOR U.S. DAIRY AROUND THE WORLD
KEY ADVANCES
Fought a politically driven countervailing duty case launched by Colombia.
Secured a landmark agreement with Chile on food names and a legal victory over the free use of “parmesan” in Singapore.
Advanced and secured tariff reductions in key markets in Europe and Asia.
Through partnerships with the U.S. Dairy Export Council and international allies, NMPF tackled global trade barriers, fought unjust tariffs, defended common food names and expanded market access for U.S. dairy products worldwide.
NMPF Pushes Back on Global Trade Barriers
NMPF in 2024 partnered with the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) to tackle barriers to trade across a wide variety of global markets including in: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand and United Kingdom.
Chief among those challenges last year was the threat of sizable additional tariffs on U.S. milk powder exports to Colombia. Jointly with USDEC, NMPF and its members responded forcefully to Colombia’s July 9 decision to initiate a countervailing duty investigation into U.S. exports of powdered milk products to secure a more favorable tariff rate from the 4.86% preliminary tariff rate in the case.
The baseless investigation motivated by domestic political pressures alleged that U.S. dairy exports had been unduly subsidized and harmed the domestic Colombian dairy industry. In coordination with members, NMPF and USDEC laid out several arguments proving Colombia’s claims meritless in its submitted response. The organizations also executed a comprehensive plan that included extensive coordination with U.S. officials and a public relations campaign in Colombia to expose the shortcomings of its governmentʼs case.
PICTURED ABOVE: NMPF’s Executive Vice President of Trade Policy and Global Affairs Shawna Morris participated in a staff briefing facilitated by the bipartisan Congressional Agricultural Trade Caucus.
NMPF and its members responded forcefully to Colombia’s decision to initiate an investigation into U.S. exports of powdered milk products.
PICTURED LEFT: Dan Brick, owner of Brickstead Dairy and member-owner of Dairy Farmers of America, visited with former Chief Agricultural Negotiator Ambassador Doug McKalip.
EXPANDING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS
to grow support and demand for U.S. dairy products in growing markets.
NMPF Protects Common Names
NMPF jointly with the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) made great strides in its mission to protect common names like “parmesan” and “provolone” as generic terms available to all around the world. NMPF’s approach includes extensive U.S. government engagement with both Congress and administration officials; direct in-country legal cases to defend generic usage rights; presentations and engagement in various global bodies to educate international audiences on the issue; and global monitoring of common name restriction risks. Successes in the past year included securing two landmark victories on behalf of U.S. cheesemakers.
In response to the EU-Chile trade agreement, CCFN worked closely with the U.S. and Chilean governments to address the European trade deal’s threats to U.S. cheese exports. This led to an exchange of letters between U.S. and Chilean trade officials ensuring that U.S. exporters will not face restrictions around the use of 29 cheese terms and establishing grandfathering protections for all U.S. users of parmesan.
NMPF also supported CCFN’s work in a case before the Singapore Courts of Appeals, which ruled on Nov. 22 that the term “parmesan” would remain a generic designation in Singapore despite the registration of a GI for Parmigiano Reggiano.
U.S. Dairy Builds a Network to Advocate Globally
NMPF continued to expand its network of formal partnerships with various foreign dairy and agricultural entities. Most recently, NMPF finalized new Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with Brazilian milk producers’ association Abraleite and the Colombian Association of Dairy Industry (Asoleche), complementing its existing network of 15 formal agreements with international associations.
The relationships are critical for presenting a united front before international forums the World Organization for Animal Health and The Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international food standardssetting body. These multilateral organizations develop and recommend science-based standards and policies vital to smooth international trade. However, they have increasingly targeted the dairy industry with policies and recommendations that lack scientific bases. NMPF’s network of allied organizations amplifies its pro-dairy messaging and helps ensure that these international agencies refrain from pushing policies that discourage dairy consumption and disrupt international trade.
NMPF Advances Multi-Pronged Tariffs Effort
NMPF and USDEC also pursued industry-initiated tariff petitions to help level the playing field for U.S. dairy exporters.
The United Kingdom announced on Mar. 16, 2024, that it was suspending 6% tariffs on imports of select milk powder following an NMPF and USDEC petition for reduced tariffs submitted in August 2023. This adjustment empowers U.S. producers to compete with European Union, Australian and New Zealand suppliers who enjoy either zerotariff or preferential access to the UK market. Shortly following that announcement, NMPF filed petitions for tariff cuts on additional products and advocated for their approval in the UK’s 2025 tariff cut process.
NMPF also advanced proposals to lower tariffs in China and Taiwan, building on NMPF’s successful campaigns to reduce tariffs in Vietnam in 2020 and China in 2017. These efforts are critical to expanding global sales given growing tariff disadvantages faced by U.S. dairy exporters.
PICTURED ABOVE: Jaime Castaneda, NMPF’s executive vice president of policy development and strategy, promoting U.S. cheese during a trade mission to Beijing, China.
PICTURED LEFT: NMPFʼs Shawna Morris visited Indonesian dignitaries, including former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, center, to advance the U.S.-Indonesia Technical Collaboration Project on Dairy.
FARM Program
BOOSTING DAIRY’S RESILIENCE
KEY ADVANCES
Spearheaded industry biosecurity response to H5N1.
Launched new versions of FARM Animal Care, Workforce Development and Environmental Stewardship.
Contributed to updated Dairy and Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual.
The
FARM Program strengthened dairy industry resilience in 2024 by providing vital biosecurity resources in response to the H5N1 outbreak, updating animal care standards, and launching new tools for environmental stewardship, workforce development and antibiotic stewardship.
Biosecurity Bolsters H5N1 Efforts
FARM Biosecurity proved essential in helping guide dairy farmers through a real-time biosecurity threat—the presence of H5N1 virus in dairy cattle. FARM provided timely, accurate information and industryleading resources as the first cases of H5N1 appeared in U.S. dairy cattle.
FARM originally designed Biosecurity-Enhanced to protect cattle in the event of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, providing tools to keep cattle movement possible while ensuring a safe and secure milk supply. The program offers enhanced biosecurity guidance for producers to voluntarily prepare before an outbreak and aligns with the Secure Milk Supply Plan for Continuity of Business. In the weeks after USDA’s March 25 announcement of the H5N1 virus in dairy cattle, FARM’s biosecurity resources became essential to dairy’s response to the bird-flu challenge.
More than 20,000 individual users have visited the FARM Biosecurity webpage since March. Producers were encouraged to enroll in the selfpaced training modules, with plans to expand training in early 2025.
20,000+ Individual users
Have visited the FARM Biosecurity webpage since March to access essential resources to dairy’s response to H5N1.
PICTURED ABOVE: FARM evaluators practicing good biosecurity practices during a training.
PICTURED LEFT: Nicole Frank, a FARM evaluator from First District Association and winner of the 2024 FARM Evaluator of the Year award, visiting one of the cooperative’s member farms.
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
The FARM Program recognized farmer and evaluator excellence through annual awards.
NMPF and the FARM Program strengthened their support for the dairy industry with the release of two resources for dairy farmers and regulatory officials. The first resource, Early Detection of H5N1 Virus in Bulk Tank Milk, is available in both English and Spanish, and highlights the benefits of routine testing of bulk tank milk as a proactive measure to safeguard cattle health. NMPF and the FARM Program also developed a 16-page guide, Bulk Tank Milk Sample Logistics for H5N1 Testing, to assist state regulatory officials. This resource offers practical considerations and logistical recommendations for using Grade “A” bulk tank milk samples to test for H5N1.
FARM Refines and Aligns Animal Care
Version 5 of the FARM Animal Care Program debuted in July, refining previous standards to reflect current science and best management practices. Revised standards focused on calf care and euthanasia, underscoring the importance of preventative and proactive animal care. Training for the new cycle continues, with 12 trainings scheduled over the next year.
FARM ES to Provide GHG and Scenario-Based Insights
FARM Environmental Stewardship Version 3 launched in late October, incorporating the Ruminant Farm Systems (RuFaS) model into the FARM ES evaluation tool. The new greenhouse gas model offers
scenario-based analysis, equipping farmers to make decisions about conservation practices and technologies that align with their unique business goals. FARM ES will incorporate future updates to the RuFaS model as they become available.
FARM ES took the main stage at the Dairy Sustainability Alliance Fall Meeting Nov. 17–19, showcasing the tool’s capability and features. Audience members representing the full dairy value chain had the chance to ask questions about the new tool and what it means for the dairy industry’s stewardship journey. FARM ES plans to incorporate user feedback to further refine the tool in 2025.
Workforce Development Strengthens Evaluation Tool
FARM Workforce Development Version 2 debuted in July with minor updates. The evaluation has been restructured to group questions of similar themes more effectively; it also contains seven additional questions to build on communication and performance management practices.
Version 2 was developed with input from the FARM Workforce Development Task Force, ensuring farmer, subject matter expert and industry feedback was captured to fit the needs of the industry.
Evaluator trainings for Version 2 began in May, with 86 evaluators certified to round out the year.
Antibiotic Stewardship Amplifies AMR Support
The FARM Antibiotic Stewardship Task Force was tapped to complete the biennial Dairy and Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual and accompanying Pocket Guide. This resource serves as a quick reference for approved medication and vaccines in dairy cattle.
NMPF’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Jamie Jonker, showcased FARM’s commitment to tackling antimicrobial resistance at the United Nations High Level Meeting on AMR in September. Jonker acts as Chair of the International Dairy Federation’s science program coordinating committee, where he commended dairy’s efforts to address antimicrobial resistance with a One Health framework.
PICTURED ABOVE: The FARM Program hosted a biosecurity discussion at World Dairy Expo. PICTURED LEFT: FARM Excellence Award recipients including Carlson Dairy LLP, Double S Dairy, Oakridge Dairy and Nicole Frank were recognized during the 2024 Joint Annual Meeting.
Reaching Out
PROVIDING ESSENTIAL RESOURCES
KEY ADVANCES
Provided timely, accessible communications and resources during the H5N1 crisis.
Equipped the next generation of dairy farmer leaders with policy knowledge and leadership skills.
Generated consumer engagement, showcasing the advantages of real dairy products over plant-based alternatives.
NMPF provided timely communication and critical resources to support dairy farmers during the H5N1 crisis, while its Young Cooperators Program continued to equip future dairy leaders with essential skills and the REAL Seal campaign highlighted the benefits of real dairy products.
NMPF Leads Dairy H5N1 Support Efforts
NMPF played a pivotal role in helping its members navigate the challenges posed by the H5N1 crisis.
By providing timely, accessible and comprehensive communications, NMPF ensured its members were informed and prepared to respond effectively to the evolving situation, coordinating closely with its member cooperatives and other stakeholders to ensure a coordinated approach to disseminating accurate information. Proactive engagement with media outlets amplified the voices of public health officials, ensuring food safety messages remained at the forefront.
NMPF and the FARM Program developed resources tailored to the diverse needs of dairy farmers, cooperative staff and regulatory officials. These materials included essential guidance on biosecurity measures, milk testing and sample logistics.
Throughout the year, NMPF also issued regular member alerts to provide real-time updates and actionable recommendations. The organization also hosted webinars featuring experts who offered insights, answered questions and shared strategies to help members mitigate risks and protect their operations. At in-person events, NMPF connected directly with members to share updates, distribute resources and gather feedback.
NMPF also maintained a dedicated webpage that served as a onestop-shop for H5N1-related resources. This hub provided up-to-date information and downloadable materials, making it invaluable for dairy farmers and cooperatives.
PICTURED ABOVE: Brent Wilson, a dairy farmer from Michigan and member-owner of Michigan Milk Producers Association, pictured here with his grandsons, shared about his experience managing an H5N1 outbreak at an NMPF-hosted event.
PICTURED LEFT: Dave and Lenore Ruppert of R-Homestead Holsteins, member-owners of Prairie Farms Inc., on their sixth-generation farm in Illinois.
PICTURED ABOVE: A Garden Vegetable with Sweet Basil Rub cheese from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery in Menomonie, WI was awarded the Chairman’s Award at the 2024 Joint Annual Meeting.
Annual Meeting Spotlights
Dairy Diligence
U.S. dairy farmers remained resilient in the face of H5N1 influenza outbreaks and advanced in policy areas including nutrition and milk pricing, said NMPF Chairman Randy Mooney at the organization’s annual meeting held in Phoenix Oct. 21–23.
Dairy persists in its best practices in biosecurity and work with government officials, veterinarians and scientists to understand, contain and prevent Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in dairy cattle, Mooney said in remarks at the meeting, held jointly by NMPF, the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board and the United Dairy Industry Association.
“Everything we do, the future is going to take a level of cooperation and coordination from all of us. And we’ve had that, but it’s going to take more than we’ve ever had,” said Mooney. “I continue to be inspired by all of you and the work that you’re doing. Amid great change and preparation for the future, we are still part of the greatest industry that there is.”
NMPF’s Board of Directors at the meeting also approved the organization’s policy positions and elected new members. The meeting drew roughly 750 attendees and featured breakout sessions on industry topics ranging from an economic outlook to the FARM Program’s Environmental Stewardship updates.
Featured panelists at the meeting’s general session included NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud, who appeared with fellow dairy CEOs Barb O’Brien of Dairy Management Inc. and Krysta Harden of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, along with a session on innovative dairy revenue streams that included Brent Lilienthal, president and CEO of LF Bioenergy; Katie Cook, vice president of livestock sustainability and U.S. farm animal marketing for Elanco; and Chris Cook, head of sustainable business solutions for Syngenta.
“Amid great change and preparation for the future, we are still part of the greatest industry that there is.”
RANDY MOONEY
NMPF
Chairman
PICTURED ABOVE: Young Cooperators convened in Washington D.C. for the annual Dairy Policy and Legislative Forum, which included a tour of the U.S. Capitol led by former Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-NY.
PICTURED RIGHT: Cheese slices on the conveyor belt at Bongards Creameriesʼ processing facility.
YC Program Prepares Farmers
The National Young Cooperators (YC) Program in 2024 re-engaged young dairy farmers across the country, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive the future of the dairy industry.
The highlight of the year was the program’s annual Leadership and Development Program, held Oct. 19–20 in Phoenix in conjunction with NMPF’s annual meeting. Ninety young dairy farmers, including YC chairs Hannah and Matthew Lansing of Prairie Farms, and co-op staff members representing 12 member cooperatives and 23 states gathered for an intensive two-day event that included workshops on cooperative governance, intergenerational communication and team management. The program also featured a panel discussion with co-op leaders and a tour of Danzeisen Dairy, known for its glass-bottled milk distributed throughout the Southwest.
The Dairy Policy and Legislative Forum, held June 3–5 in Washington, D.C., drew 50 young dairy farmers from 10 member cooperatives and 17 states. Participants explored key NMPF policy priorities, including the farm bill, dairy labeling standards and foreign market access. The forum combined advocacy training with direct engagement, as participants met with members of Congress and their staff to discuss legislative priorities and build relationships to strengthen dairy policy.
At the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI, Oct. 3–4, the YC Program hosted a panel discussion on farm transition planning. The session featured current and former YCs who shared practical insights on navigating the complexities of farm succession. Additionally,
Young dairy farmers
Attended the 2024 YC Leadership and Development Program, representing 12 member cooperatives and 23 states. 90
the YC Program partnered with the Dairy Girl Network to host a panel spotlighting prominent women leaders in the dairy industry. This event drew more than 1,500 attendees in person and online, highlighting strategies for overcoming barriers and advancing women’s leadership in dairy.
The YC Program’s success in 2024 was made possible by the generous support of NMPF member cooperatives and sponsors such as Farm Credit, Ever.Ag and Monument Advocacy.
REAL Seal Touts Dairy
NMPF continued to tout the benefits of real dairy foods—and the drawbacks of plant-based imitators—using the REAL Seal program.
NMPF invests the fees paid by 200 REAL Seal users in a digital consumer marketing campaign touting the value of real dairy foods.
Media impressions on the program’s social networking channels reached 4.8 million in 2024, along with nearly one million total engagements, and an average engagement rate of 26% on Facebook. In addition to 58 posts targeting fake dairy foods, the REAL Seal last year touted brands that support the red insignia on their products. Last year, that included 12 different brands, including Kemp’s dairy foods.
MAKING IMPRESSIONS
4.8 million impressions were made on NMPF’s REAL Seal program in 2024, touting the benefits of real dairy foods.
Staff
Gregg Doud
President & Chief Executive Officer
Nicole Ayache
Chief Sustainability Officer
Alan Bjerga
Executive Vice President, Communications & Industry Relations
Paul Bleiberg
Executive Vice President, Government Relations
Charlene Boulden
Executive Assistant to the Office of the President & CEO
Stephen Cain
Senior Director, Economic Research & Analysis
Jaime Castaneda
Executive Vice President, Policy Development & Strategy
Ashley Childs
Manager, Finance & Administration
Jessi-Ryah Cordova
Communications Coordinator, FARM Program
Clay Detlefsen
Senior Vice President, Regulatory & Environmental Affairs
Chris Galen
Senior Vice President, Member Services & Governance
Khadija Gibson-White
Program Manager, Cooperatives Working Together
Beverly Hampton Phifer
Senior Director, FARM Animal Care
Miquela Hanselman Director, Regulatory Affairs
Abdullah Ibrahimzada
Information System Analyst, FARM Program
Executive Committee
Randy Mooney
Chairman – Dairy Farmers of America
Simon Vander Woude
First Vice Chairman –California Dairies, Inc.
Cricket Jacquier
Second Vice Chairman –Agri-Mark, Inc.
Craig Caballero
Secretary – United Dairymen of Arizona
Pete Kappelman
Treasurer – Land O’ Lakes, Inc.
Sheryl Meshke
Associated Milk Producers Inc.
Rob Vandenheuvel
California Dairies, Inc.
Jamie Jonker
Chief Science Officer and Vice President, Sustainability & Scientific Affairs
Louise Kamali
Vice President, Meetings & Office Services
Will Loux
Senior Vice President, Global Economic Affairs
Shawna Morris
Executive Vice President, Trade Policy & Global Affairs
Rachel Ravencraft Director, Communications
Tony Rice Director, Trade Policy
Sage Saffran Manager, Sustainability Initiatives
Scott Sanborn
Office Assistant
Theresa Sweeney-Murphy
Senior Director, Communications & Outreach
Pat Vincent Director, Economic Policy and Market Research
David West Chief Administrative Officer
Allison Wilton
Coordinator, Economic Policy & Global Analysis
Bobby Yi
Senior Director, Information Technology
Melvin Medeiros
Dairy Farmers of America
Dennis Rodenbaugh Dairy Farmers of America
Joel Eigenbrood Foremost Farms
Jon Cowell
Maola Local Dairies
Doug Chapin
Michigan Milk Producers Association
Allan Huttema
Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold
Frank Doll
Prairie Farms Dairy
Jacob Larson
Southeast Milk Inc.
Board of Directors
Cricket Jacquier
Agri-Mark, Inc. – Connecticut
Sheryl Meshke
Associated Milk Producers Inc. – Minnesota
Dave Peterson
Associated Milk Producers Inc. – Wisconsin
Tom Beringer
Bongards’ Creameries – Minnesota
Brad Anderson
California Dairies, Inc. – California
Darrin Monteiro
California Dairies, Inc. – California
Robert Vandenheuvel
California Dairies, Inc. – California
Cory Vanderham
California Dairies, Inc. – California
Simon Vander Woude
California Dairies, Inc. – California
Neil Zwart
California Dairies, Inc. – California
Dale Mattoon
Cayuga Marketing – New York
Jimmy Kerr
Cooperative Milk Producers Association – Virginia
Brad Bateman
Dairy Farmers of America – Utah
Rob Byrne
Dairy Farmers of America – Kansas
Craig Edler
Dairy Farmers of America – Wisconsin
Travis Fogler
Dairy Farmers of America – Maine
Jerrel Heatwole
Dairy Farmers of America – Delaware
Alex Peterson
Dairy Farmers of America – Missouri
Neil Hoff
Dairy Farmers of America – Texas
Harold Howrigan
Dairy Farmers of America – Vermont
Karen Jordan
Dairy Farmers of America – North Carolina
Jackie Klippenstein
Dairy Farmers of America – Kansas
Chris Kraft
Dairy Farmers of America – Colorado
Dan Kullot
Dairy Farmers of America – Kansas
Michael Lichte
Dairy Farmers of America – Kansas
Melvin Medeiros
Dairy Farmers of America – California
Randy Mooney
Dairy Farmers of America – Missouri
Doug Nuttelman
Dairy Farmers of America – Nebraska
Kim Parks
Dairy Farmers of America – Kansas
Jeff Raney
Dairy Farmers of America – Pennsylvania
Brian Rexing
Dairy Farmers of America – Indiana
Dennis Rodenbaugh
Dairy Farmers of America – Kansas
Dan Senestraro
Dairy Farmers of America – Kansas
Perry Tjaarda
Dairy Farmers of America – California
Deric Lindstrom
Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery – Wisconsin
Joe Becker
First District Association – Minnesota
Mark Leichtfuss
FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative – Wisconsin
Joel Eigenbrood Foremost Farms – Michigan
Greg Schlafer
Foremost Farms USA – Wisconsin
Joey Fernandes
Land O’ Lakes, Inc. – California
Andy Mason
Land O’ Lakes, Inc. – Maryland
Pete Kappelman
Land O’ Lakes, Inc. – Wisconsin
Chris Sukalski
Land O’ Lakes, Inc. – Minnesota
Jeff Sims
Lone Star Milk Producers – Texas
Jon Cowell
Maola Local Dairies – Virginia
Joe Diglio
Michigan Milk Producers Association – Michigan
Doug Chapin
Michigan Milk Producers Association – Michigan
Gib Martin
Mt. Joy Farmers Cooperative –Pennsylvania
Tony Freeman
Northwest Dairy Association/ Darigold – Washington
Allan Huttema
Northwest Dairy Association/ Darigold – Idaho
Mike Schoneveld
Northwest Dairy Association/ Darigold – Washington
Frank Doll
Prairie Farms Dairy – Illinois
Jacob Larson
Southeast Milk Inc. – Florida
Joe Jenck
Tillamook County Creamery Association – Oregon
Craig Caballero
United Dairymen of Arizona –Arizona
Richard Hill
Upstate Niagara
Cooperative, Inc. – New York
