NMPF calls for fair milk pricing

Jun 07, 2024

Board addresses H5N1 response

By Farms.com

The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Board meeting concluded with discussions on fair milk pricing and dairy's response to H5N1 influenza. Randy Mooney, a Missouri dairy farmer, expressed confidence in the industry's resilience.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to unveil its plan for Federal Milk Marketing Order modernization, a move championed by NMPF. The board reviewed recent policy developments, including progress on the 2024 Farm Bill and updates on H5N1 influenza.

NMPF Chief Science Officer Dr. Jamie Jonker led discussions on H5N1, emphasizing its importance to dairy's future. The meeting coincided with NMPF's annual Young Cooperators fly-in, where dairy farmers advocated for the industry with lawmakers.

Dairy farmers urged passage of a Farm Bill, expanded market access for U.S. dairy products, and federal action on milk labeling integrity. The board also considered improvements to the Cooperatives Working Together program and elected three new members.

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.