U.S. and Mexico dairy leaders unite for industry collaboration

May 13, 2024

By Farms.com

In a concerted effort to bolster cooperation and address common challenges, dairy leaders from the United States and Mexico gathered for their sixth meeting in Chihuahua, Mexico. Led by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), the discussions aimed to strengthen partnerships and advance shared goals within the dairy industry.

With representation from prominent dairy organizations on both sides, delegates engaged in productive dialogue on pressing issues affecting dairy sectors in the region and globally. Key areas of focus included trade facilitation, promotion of dairy consumption, farm productivity enhancement, and protection of dairy product integrity.

A joint statement emphasized the commitment to maintaining open communication channels, sharing best practices, and collaborating on initiatives to promote technological exchange and training. Participants also pledged to advocate for common interests and coordinate efforts to address emerging challenges, such as sustainability and market dynamics.

The meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to gain insights into each other's dairy operations through site visits and discussions. By fostering cross-border partnerships and collaboration, stakeholders aim to drive sustainable growth, enhance trade relations, and advocate for the interests of dairy producers and consumers in both countries.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.