California Ag Network

Category: Dairy Industry

  • Real California Milk Excelerator Launches Quest for New Dairy Innovation

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced the return of its annual dairy innovation competition for the fourth year running. This year’s Real California Milk Excelerator, created in partnership with innovation consultancy VentureFuel, brings a new, expansive focus to accelerate any dairy-based product – from traditional consumer food and beverage items to textiles, haircare, and beyond. The competition will award up to $500,000 in prizes for new innovative dairy products that introduce novel benefits in any form and drive consumption of Real California dairy.

    The 2022 Real California Milk Excelerator enables innovation in its truest state: open. Given dairy’s versatility of benefits and functionality, from nutrition and flavor to texture and chemical composition, this open approach encourages innovation across product categories, all leveraging the versatility of the dairy ecosystem. It also taps into two of California’s incredible resources – an abundant supply of sustainably sourced California milk and the state’s entrepreneurial spirit.

    “Real dairy provides a package of functional and practical benefits that’s hard to replicate. We’re seeing an increase in unique products that leverage these benefits emerging in the market. By expanding the competition to all new dairy-based products, versus a specific category, we’re creating more opportunity to make a meaningful difference in consumers’ lives and in the utilization of milk from California’s family dairy farms,” said John Talbot, CEO of the CMAB. “With the Excelerator platforms we’ve established over the past four years, we will be able to support companies as they innovate and establish these products in the market.”

    As one of the biggest dairy competitions in the world, the program seeks early-stage, high-growth potential applicants with a 50% cow’s milk-based product or working prototype.

    Up to eight applicants will be selected to join the RCM Excelerator program. Each will have access to a group stipend and a robust network of resources to refine and scale their product and business. They will also participate in the CMAB/VentureFuel Mentorship Program, consisting of elite counsel from successful founders, investors, leading corporate executives, and experts across design, marketing, sales, manufacturing, distribution, farming, and processing industries.

    VentureFuel, Inc., a leading corporate innovation consultancy, is driving what’s next – now – in dairy innovation through the continued partnership with CMAB. “Each year, we tap into our global network of investors, founders, academics, and idea generators to maximize collective opportunities,” said Fred Schonenberg, Founder of VentureFuel, Inc. “Innovation continues to accelerate in product volume and the speed from idea to market. Now, we are matching the most promising companies with capital to be deployed intentionally, and with significant near-term, tangible impact.”

    This year, for the first time, the odds of receiving an award are higher than ever, with up to four of the eight participants receiving $50,000 each to grow and expand their product in California. One of the participating companies will unlock an additional $100,000 grand prize by establishing their presence in California and exhibiting the most promising growth within the 12 months after the finals. The total value of all competition awards tallies in at half a million dollars.

    More details including competition rules, timeline and application are available at realcamilkexcelerator.com. The deadline to apply is July 17th, 2022.

    California, known for innovation, has a reputation for quality dairy products. As the number one milk producer in the U.S., California also leads the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. More than 1,100 family dairy farms produce the milk found in fluid milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, and other dairy products identified by the Real California Milk seal.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagramand Pinterest.

    About VentureFuel, Inc.

    Founded in 2014, VentureFuel is an independent innovation consultancy that builds innovation programs for industry leaders by unlocking the power of external innovation through startup collaboration. Its programs focus on changing behaviors and beliefs to unlock new sources of growth. We provide senior leaders with the tools to drive transformative change within their organizations by opening their teams to new ways of working, products, services and routes to market. Learn more at: www.venturefuel.net, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.  You can listen to The VentureFuel Visionaries podcast on Apple, Spotify or Simplecast.

  • National Pizza Contest Finals for Innovative Recipes Showcasing Real California Cheese

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) announced the 12 finalists for the 2022 Real California Pizza Contest (RCPC) – the fourth nationwide search for the best foodservice pizza recipes that include the most innovative uses of Real California cow’s milk cheeses. The professional chef finalists will compete in three categories during a public bake-off event in Napa, Calif. June 22, 2022 for awards totaling $30,000.

    Winners will be selected by a panel of expert judges including Tony Gemignani, chef, restauranter, international pizza authority and President of the World Pizza Champions; Glenn Cybulski, certified pizzaiolo and award-winning executive chef; and Spencer Glenn, executive chef at Pizza My Heart and 2021 RCPC Grand Prize Winner. The judges chose the 12 finalists from more than 100 blind-judged entries from throughout the United States, in the Cal-Mex, REAL Californian, and Plant-Forward recipe categories.

    “After four years, we continue to be inspired by the innovative use of our California cheeses in pizza contest entries. For such an established foodservice category, chefs haven’t run out of ideas and that’s what brings us back year after year,” said Mike Gallagher, Business and Market Development Consultant for the CMAB. “As the leading producer of mozzarella cheese and second largest cheese producer in the U.S., pizza remains an important category for our foodservice business. Connecting with and celebrating these chefs and their creations helps us build awareness for the tremendous products we have available.”

    The live bake-off finals event takes place at the Culinary Institute of America Copia facility in Napa, where pizzas will be prepared and baked onsite for a blind evaluation by judges. Category winners will each receive $5,000. The Grand Prize Winner, selected from the three category winners, will win an additional $10,000. Remaining finalists will receive $500 each.

    The 2022 finalists, listed alongside hometown and pizza entry name, are:

    Cal-Mex

    • Ryan Ososky, Los Angeles, Calif., Oaxacan in the Motorcity
    • Christopher Lascik, Yelm, Wash., El Puerco Verde
    • Austin Buckland, Marion, Ohio, La Fiesta
    • Marcus Medina, Tracy, Calif., Cali Craft Chicken Enchilazza

    The REAL Californian

    • Ray Cullison, Kingman, Ariz., California Dreamin’
    • Chris Decker, Las Vegas, Nev., For the Love of California
    • Jason Garland, Waverly, Minn., The Venice Beach
    • David Jacobson, Concord, Calif., The Gold Rush

    Plant-Forward

    • Leah Scurto, Windsor, Calif., Spear-It of Spring
    • Max Cufre, San Diego, Calif., Honey, I’m Home!
    • Yoshiharu Sogi, Sonoma, Calif., Sweet Blue
    • Melina Felix, Littleton, Colo., Green N’ Zesty

    RCPC bake-off finals will be streamed on Facebook Live on June 22 at 3 p.m. PST atfacebook.com/realcamilkfoodservice. Additional details on the bake-off, pizza chef finalists and CMAB’s foodservice support are available at Real California Pizza Contest.

    California is a reliable, consistent source of sustainable dairy products used by chefs throughout the world. As the nation’s largest dairy state, California boasts an impressive lineup of award-winning cheesemakers and dairy processors, that are helping to drive dining innovation.

    About Real California Milk/the California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs.

    The Foodservice Division of the CMAB supports foodservice operators and distributors that use Real California dairy products. The CMAB offers marketing and promotional support for foodservice operators that purchase dairy products with the Real California Milk seal, which means they are made with 100 percent milk from California’s more than 1,100 family dairy farms, using some of the most sustainable dairy practices in the nation.

    For more information on sourcing cheese from California, contact the foodservice team at 209.883.6455 (MILK),businessdevelopment@cmab.net or RealCaliforniaMilk.com/Foodservice, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

  • CA’s Bar 20 Dairy Among 2022 Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Sustainability Award Winners

    The U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards program recognized a class of seven exceptional farms, businesses and partnerships for their socially responsible, economically viable and environmentally sound practices and technologies that have a broad and positive impact.

    This year’s winners displayed excellence in areas such as methane and other greenhouse gas reduction practices as well as water use efficiencies that support the industrywide 2050 Environmental Stewardship Goals.

    The awards, hosted by the farmer-founded Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, have recognized more than 80 winners from nearly 300 nominees since their creation in 2012.

    “This year’s winners exemplify how forward-thinking and regenerative efforts across the entire supply chain have led to positive results and what it means to be an environmental solution,” said Barbara O’Brien, CEO of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. “Considered collectively, these stories of success serve as examples of all the good things U.S. dairy is doing for planetary health and why the aggressive goals we have set are within reach.”

    The awards are judged by an independent panel of dairy and conservation experts who consider innovation, scalability and replicability when evaluating nominations. Among the criteria to apply for the awards is participation and good standing in the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) animal care program and agreement to participate in the FARM Environmental Stewardship online tool for determining their GHG and energy footprint. Both initiatives are part of the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment, U.S. dairy’s social responsibility pledge to consumers, customers and other stakeholders.

    “As a dairy farmer, I understand the importance of community and being a true caretaker of the environment that surrounds our farm and these winners demonstrate these values to their neighbors every day,” said Marilyn Hershey, Pennsylvania dairy farmer and chair of the Dairy Management Inc. board of directors. “These all are solution- and results-oriented businesses who are not only making meaningful contributions locally but to the U.S. dairy industry overall.”

    The 2022 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Awards winners are:

    Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability: Bar 20, Kerman, California

    Bar 20 Dairy’s on-farm energy investments have added up big for the environment. LED bulbs provide lighting in all the barns, reducing the demand for electricity by 75%. Two solar array installations provide electricity for the dairy barn and offset power usage of the farming operation. A dairy digester captures methane from the 7,000-cow herd and converts it into renewable electricity via fuel cells. Through a partnership with BMW North America, the combustion-free, dairy-derived electricity is transmitted via the utility grid to power electric vehicles. The methane emission reductions at the farm, when combined with the renewable energy generation, result in carbon emission reductions equivalent to providing clean power to over 17,000 electric vehicles per year. Electricity generated by the fuel cells also powers a feed mixing system, replacing diesel and reducing smog-forming emissions by 90%.

    Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability: Deer Run Dairy, Kewaunee, Wisconsin

    At Deer Run Dairy, farming is a continuous learning process. Partners Duane Ducat, Derek Ducat and Dale Bogart actively participate in Wisconsin’s Demonstration Farm Network and Discovery Research program. The region’s topography, shallow soils, and proximity to Lake Michigan pose water quality challenges, and the partners have implemented numerous conservation practices to protect the water and to improve soil health. As big believers in the value of cover crops, they set and achieved a goal to seed 100% of their cropland with cover crops in the fall of 2021. Additional goals encompass the entire 1,850-cow operation, including minimal antibiotic use and feeding trials to reduce methane gas production in the rumen of the cow. All goals ladder up to the ability to be a profitable business on land that is sustained for generations to come. 

    Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability: Grayhouse Farms, Inc., Stony Point, North Carolina

    When it came time to build a new dairy five years ago, Jimmy and Andy Gray designed a dairy that is, as Jimmy calls it, “conservation and efficiency by design” with dozens of water and soil conservation practices in use. The flush manure management and sand separation system allows sand to be recycled nearly 100 times, and a four-stage lagoon is designed to best utilize nutrients and water. The facility for their 1,120 cows was also built to maximize cow comfort, from ventilation and fans to rubber matting, sprinklers and sand bedding.  Soil conservation practices include GPS placement of nutrients, cover crops, filter strips and 100% no-till farming. Land that is not well-suited for farming is cared for with an equal amount of attention to wildlife conservation. “We understand that we hold the title of this property, but we are the caretakers, and we must be vigilant in HOW we farm,” says Jimmy.

    Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability: Steve and Cheryl Schlangen Dairy Farm, Albany, Minnesota

    Steve and Cheryl Schlangen’s mindset of continuous improvement is a way of life on their 60-cow, 200-acre farm in Stearns County, Minnesota.  They count more than 30 conservation practices, from LED lighting and cover crops to a manure-stacking slab that prevents nutrient leaching into the water and a manure injection system that uses less time, less fuel and has virtually eliminated the need for commercial fertilizer on their crops. Their enthusiasm for sharing ideas and results with others has earned them a national reputation as leaders in regenerative agriculture. Schlangen Dairy provides a blueprint for beginning farmers and generational farms to follow.

    Outstanding Dairy Processing Sustainability: Milk Specialties Global, Monroe, Wisconsin

    A whey processing project at Milk Specialties Global (MSG) demonstrates how making one change can deliver sustainability benefits across the supply chain.  To meet surging demand for dairy protein in foods and beverages, MSG acquired a plant in Monroe, WI to collect and process whey, a by-product of cheesemaking, into whey proteins. However, the whey supply from local cheesemakers far outweighed processing capacity. Instead of trucking the whey to a larger plant, MSG found a way to double capacity at the plant without increasing the facility’s footprint. Artisanal cheesemakers saw a waste product turn into a revenue stream. The local community benefitted too:  truck miles decreased by 237,232 miles, saving 47,446 gallons of diesel fuel and reducing GHG emissions by 486 metric tons; 2.9 million gallons of water are now reclaimed and returned to the local watershed; and more than 53,000 pounds of whey protein is produced annually to fuel athletes and animals around the globe.

    Outstanding Community Impact: Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers

    Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MDVA) is a community of more than 900 dairy farm families. With 90% of these located within the critical Chesapeake Bay watershed, the cooperative recognizes its responsibility to bring environmental solutions to its members and their communities. Through supply chain and partnerships with corporations, customers, and conservation non-profits, they have delivered more than $19 million in funds to make meaningful sustainability investments on member farms.  To drive community impact, volunteers from MDVA and its partners participate in events such as planting riparian buffers on dairy farms and trash pick-ups along waterways. Planting riparian buffers helps protect critical waterways far beyond the reach of the farm, while also exposing people throughout the dairy supply chain to agriculture.

    Outstanding Supply Chain Sustainability: Bel Brands, Land O’Lakes Inc., Boadwine Dairy

    This multi-year program is designed to demonstrate the value of feed production practices that improve soil health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supports Bel Brands’ and Land O’Lakes’ shared ambitions to improve sustainable farming practices and reduce dairy’s environmental footprint. The project provides cost incentives, access to resources and expertise, and the use of the Truterra™ Insights Engine to participating farms. The first pilot took place on Boadwine Dairy, a member-owner of Land O’Lakes, where efforts to improve soil health have been ongoing for more than ten years, and is being expanded to dairy farms ranging in size from 450 – 2000 cows in two regions.

    A formal celebration of the winners is scheduled in conjunction with the Dairy Sustainability Alliance® Fall Meeting, Nov. 14-15 in Glendale, Ariz.

    For information about the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, visit www.usdairy.com/about-us/innovation-center

    The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy® is a forum that brings together the dairy community to address the changing needs and expectations of consumers through a framework of shared best practices and accountability. Initiated in 2008 by dairy farmers through the dairy checkoff, we collaborate on efforts that are important both to us and our valued customers in areas like animal care, food safety, nutrition and health, the environment and community contributions. Through the Innovation Center, the U.S. dairy community demonstrates its commitment to continuous improvement from farm to table, striving to ensure a socially responsible and economically viable dairy community.

  • Abby Kornegay Joins Animal Agriculture Alliance as Manager, Issues & Engagement

    The Animal Agriculture Alliance recently hired Abby Kornegay as manager, issues and engagement. Kornegay assumed her new role on May 9. In this role, Kornegay is responsible for shaping the Alliance’s issues management and crisis communications strategy.

    Kornegay joins the Alliance team from her previous role as animal care program manager for Butterball, LLC. She managed the organization’s industry-leading animal care and well-being program, directed innovative strategies within their biosecurity program, and worked closely with auditing organizations for both welfare and marketing program audits. Kornegay also brings experience in project management, leadership and public relations.

    Prior to her work at Butterball, LLC, Kornegay held several internships within the animal agriculture community, including working with large animal veterinarians and research farm positions at North Carolina State University.

    Kornegay is originally from upstate New York. Her passion for agriculture comes from her family and growing up in the restaurant business where she worked with food and local farmers from an early age, sparking her interest in agriculture. In college, she was a member of Alpha Zeta – Professional Agricultural Fraternity.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Abby to the Alliance team as our manager, issues and engagement,” said Hannah Thompson-Weeman, Alliance president and CEO. “Abby is well-versed in issues and crisis management and will serve as a great addition to the organization. Her background in animal welfare and poultry will add to the strengths of the team and allow us to better serve our diverse membership and the animal agriculture community.”

    Kornegay holds a B.S. and M.A.S. in animal science from North Carolina State University. She currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.

    In addition to Kornegay joining the Alliance’s small but mighty team, Emily Solis was promoted to manager, communications and content, effective May 1. In this new role, Solis is tasked with shaping the organization’s brand and proactive communications strategy.

    “Emily has been an incredible asset to the Alliance team and has helped make our communications efforts, including our social media strategy, Annual Report and Sustainability Impact Report, more professional and effective,” said Thompson-Weeman. “This well-deserved promotion comes in recognition of her commitment to excellence, and I’m excited to see what more she is able to accomplish for animal agriculture in her new role.”

    Solis joined the Alliance as communications specialist in 2020. She holds a B.S. in animal science from the University of Maryland and currently resides in east Tennessee.

    About the Alliance:

    The Animal Agriculture Alliance safeguards the future of animal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between the farm and food communities. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.

  • California Dairy Innovation Center Offers Opportunities For Cheese Education

    The California Dairy Innovation Center (CDIC) announced the latest list of short courses which will be offered this year in collaboration with the Pacific Coast Coalition and industry instructors. Dates for an inaugural Dairy Products, Processing, and Packaging Innovation Conference were also announced.

    The Frozen Desserts Innovation short course will be held on June 28th and 29th at the Dairy Innovation Institute, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a focus on capturing consumer trends: sugar-free, lactose-free and high protein. The short course features both lectures, demonstrations and actual ice cream manufacture in the Cal Poly pilot plant and creamery.  In addition, a sales and marketing educational segment will provide practical guidance to entrepreneurs, and established brands alike. Registration is open at: https://dairy.calpoly.edu/short-course-symposia

    The Advanced Unit Operations short course will take place September 27-29. Designed for those working in dairy plants, this course delivers both theoretical and practical understanding and knowledge of pasteurization, separation, condensation, filtration systems, drying, as well as principles of food safety. Program and registration will open June 1.

    The California Dairy Innovation Center, in collaboration with Cal Poly, The Dairy Business Innovation Initiative, Pacific Coast Alliance, and Fresno State will hold a first ever conference on Dairy Products Processing and Packaging Innovation in Shell Beach, Calif, October 12th-14th. Featuring both national and international speakers, the conference focuses on consumer-driven innovation and the latest technological advances. Program outline and registration is open at: https://dairy.calpoly.edu/short-course-symposia

    California is the nation’s leading milk producer, and produces more butter, ice cream and nonfat dry milk than any other state. California is the second-largest producer of cheese and yogurt. California milk and dairy foods can be identified by the Real California Milk seal, which certifies they are made with milk from the state’s dairy farm families.

    About the California Dairy Innovation Center

    The California Dairy Innovation Center (CDIC) coordinates pre-competitive research and educational training in collaboration with industry, check-off programs, and research/academic institutions in support of a common set of innovation and productivity goals. The CDIC is guided by a Steering Committee that includes California Dairies Inc., California Dairy Research Foundation, California Milk Advisory Board, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Dairy Management Inc., Fresno State University, Hilmar Cheese, Leprino Foods, and UC Davis.

    About Real California Milk/California Milk Advisory Board

    The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB), an instrumentality of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is funded by the state’s dairy farm families who lead the nation in sustainable dairy farming practices. With a vision to nourish the world with the wholesome goodness of Real California Milk, the CMAB’s programs focus on increasing demand for California’s sustainable dairy products in the state, across the U.S. and around the world through advertising, public relations, research, and retail and foodservice promotional programs. For more information and to connect with the CMAB, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

  • CA State Fair Announces 2022 Cheese Competition Awards

    After a two year hiatus, the California State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition was held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at Cal Expo. Out of 100 cheese entries from producers throughout the state, the best two cheeses in California have been named.

    Point Reyes Farmstead “Bay Blue”

    The Best of Show Cheese – Cow’s Milk has been awarded to Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company. Inspired by the sheer natural beauty of our coastal climate and locale, Point Reyes Farmstead Bay Blue took the honors. Bay Blue is a rustic-style blue cheese with a natural rind. It is known for its mellow flavor and sweet, salted caramel finish. Bay Blue is made from pasteurized, rBST-free cow’s milk with traditional rennet. It is gluten-free and aged for 90 days. This is their fifth time winning Best of Show for Cow’s Milk.

    Central Coast Creamery “Goat Gouda”

    The Best of Show Cheese – Other Milk Type goes to Central Coast Creamery for their Goat Gouda. This is the producer’s first time winning Best of Show! The Goat Gouda is made from 100% whole goat milk and goat cream, aged on pine wood in a ripening room for at least 5 months. This semi-soft cheese is ivory colored with a smooth mouth feel and the slightly grainy texture of an aged cheese. Goat Gouda has a caramel scent with a slightly nutty and sweet flavor that makes this cheese an ideal choice for your cheese tray, picnic basket, or when pairing with your favorite wine or beer.

    The 16 California cheese companies who entered the competition range from small artisan producers to large-scale cheese production companies. Cheese judges are selected from respected cheese merchants, writers, promoters, and educators. The cheeses are entered by Division and Class and evaluated for appearance, aroma, texture, and taste.

    This year, a panel of 9 official judges tasted and evaluated all 100 California cheeses at Cal Expo on May 11, 2022. You can find a complete list of the award-winning cheeses at CalExpoStateFair.com/California-Commercial-Cheese.

    2022 CA State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition Judges with Commercial Cheese Competition Coordinator, Marilyn Langhorst

    About the California State Fair

    The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology, and the diversity of its people, traditions, and trends that shape the Golden State’s future.

  • Sustainable Food Systems and Farm Security Among Topics Covered at 2022 Animal Ag Alliance Summit

    The Animal Agriculture Alliance held its 2022 Stakeholders Summit recently, themed “Come Together for Animal Ag: Be Informed, Be Ready, Be Here.” The dynamic event, which returned to an in-person format for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, brought together a diverse audience of over 260 attendees to Kansas City, Mo. and included an additional 125 registered virtual attendees. Speakers covered topics including environmental stewardship, food equity, influencer engagement and animal rights extremism.

    Jack Bobo, CEO of Futurity, kicked off the Summit in a keynote session opening attendees’ minds to consider if animal agriculture can save the planet. Bobo discussed beliefs that the food system is broken, which he said stem from issues with food security and equity. He countered that if things are broken, that usually means they were better in the past. In the case of our food system, he stated, “Things are not bad and getting worse; things are good and getting better – just not fast enough.” Bobo finished with, “If we get it right, agriculture can, in fact, save the planet.” Registered dietitian and author Diana Rodgers touched on the food system as well in her session on sustainable nutrition. Diana highlighted the importance of meat, milk, poultry and eggs in a nutritious diet as they are high-quality protein sources and provide essential nutrients that would be hard to replace if these foods were removed from our plates. Rodgers added that we cannot take meat away from people who depend on it for their nutrition or food security.

    Influencer engagement, which has been a growing trend used to reach more people through partnerships and collaborations with those who have already developed a strong following and community, was discussed by several speakers as a way to more effectively communicate messages about sustainability, animal welfare and other hot topics. Former Google executive Steve Lerch of Story Arc Consulting said if you’re not front and center on the platforms consumers care about, they will find somewhere else to get their information. Some of the tips he shared to achieving more influence were to “pay attention to the things your targets are paying attention to” and take advantage of trends in pop culture. In a panel of farmer influencers, speakers stressed the importance of all types of advocacy efforts in bridging the communication gap. “There is no one right way to do advocacy,” said Brandi Buzzard, Kansas cattle rancher and social media influencer. Speakers encouraged attendees to not be afraid to try something new as long as they don’t put down their fellow advocates while doing it. Speakers shared sentiments that doing so creates division between fellow advocates and turns customers off to animal agriculture as a whole.

    Tying into the Alliance’s mission of safeguarding the future of animal agriculture, Thursday morning’s sessions highlighted how we can do just that. On a panel about trends in activism and security resources, Rebecca Morgan of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center told attendees, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…the most effective measures are often the simplest and least expensive.” Cybersecurity advisor Andrew Rose added that it’s important to remember even the most well-thought-out plans will have holes in them but running through them in advance can help you identify those weak points. In a legal and legislative update session, experts discussed some of the primary issues on the docket and what attendees can do to help. California Proposition 12 and Massachusetts Question 3 were among the issues mentioned. Attorney Brianna Schroeder of Janzen Schroeder Agricultural Law said, “What’s happening on the west coast moves east…stay active and stay in communication with your local legislators.”

    Tricia Sheehan of Dairy Management Inc. and Iowa Soybean Association’s Aaron Putze rounded out the Summit. Sheehan led a crisis communications interactive workshop, which included a realistic and unexpected protest scenario. Sheehan’s team mimicked common tactics used by animal rights extremist organizations to get attendees considering what they would do in a similar scenario. Sheehan walked through the important components of a crisis communications plan and allowed attendees to put it into practice with an interactive example. In his closing keynote, Putze encouraged the audience to take what they’ve learned in the Summit sessions and apply it moving forward with “mindset relationship.” “What we do matters, but more importantly, it’s how we do it that matters,” he said. Putze recommended prioritizing what’s important over what’s urgent with a focus on being courteous, treating others with dignity, and treating others with respect.

    A highlights report with key takeaways and quotes from each session will be available soon at www.animalagalliance.org. Save the date for the 2023 Summit, slated for May 4-5 in Arlington, Virginia! Stay tuned to #AAA23 for updates.

    About the Alliance:

    The Animal Agriculture Alliance safeguards the future of animal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between the farm and food communities. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.

    Find the Alliance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

  • U.S. Retaliatory Tariffs Required as Canada Refuses USMCA Obligations

    The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) today called on the U.S. government to levy retaliatory tariffs on Canada after Ottawa made clear that it refuses to meet its signed treaty obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) concerning dairy market access.

    In January, a USMCA dispute resolution panel initiated by the U.S. found that Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) system violates the terms of USMCA. Canada issued a new TRQ proposal in March which included only inconsequential changes. Today’s announcement shows no indication that Canada intends to comply with its USMCA commitments on dairy TRQs.

    “Canada made a clear choice to thumb its nose at both the United States government and its international treaty obligations. It has completely disregarded the USMCA agreement signed just a few short years ago,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “Ottawa’s decision today is clearly designed to test our resolve by doubling down on its longstanding dairy trade violations, ignoring both the spirit and the letter of its trade agreements. That decision demands retaliatory action by the U.S. government. Otherwise, our trade agreements will be seen as toothless before the ink is dry.”

    “USTR, USDA and scores of members of Congress from both side of the aisle have worked diligently to ensure American dairy farmers and manufacturers benefit from USMCA. They deserve our deepest thanks for bringing us this far,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “Unfortunately, Canada simply refuses to institute real reform, and such actions must have consequences. Retaliatory tariffs are both fair and necessary in this circumstance, as clearly provided for by USMCA.”

    As an April 5 bipartisan letter on the matter sent to Ambassador Tai and Secretary Vilsack from several leading members of the U.S. House of Representatives stated, “A deal’s a deal; it’s not too much to ask that our trading partners live up to their end of the bargain.”

    On April 19, USDEC and NMPF filed public comments on the matter with Global Affairs Canada. The filing noted, “Canada’s proposed allocation and administration policy changes in response to the CUSMA report continue to fall woefully short of full compliance with Canada’s CUSMA obligations. This has consequences not only for the agreed-upon CUSMA benefits denied U.S. and Canadian stakeholders, but also for the credibility of CUSMA enforcement procedures undergoing their first test in this dispute and for the success of CUSMA itself. We urge Canada to consider its larger interest in the success of the CUSMA and modify its dairy TRQ allocation and administration policies to give effect, in good faith, to Canada’s CUSMA commitments.”

    The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) also shared their distaste with Canada’s actions. “This outcome is completely unacceptable,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA. “Canada’s publication today clearly shows they are ignoring their trade commitments agreed to in the USMCA and refusing to administer their dairy TRQs in a manner compliant with the agreement. The U.S. dairy industry has made clear from the start that U.S. dairy exporters demand real TRQ reform that will permit the market access Canada agreed to. The U.S. met with Canada a week ago on this very matter and expected a good faith effort. Instead, Canada continues to deny U.S. dairy products from reaching their full capacity under the terms of the deal and continues to deny the existence of any obligations. IDFA thoroughly rejects the Canadian policy published today and demands a swift response from USTR.”

    He continued, “Canada cannot be permitted to blatantly disregard their trade obligations after having been found non-compliant by a neutral and expert panel, only to then ignore their obligations without consequence. We are pleased to see USDA responding forcefully and hope that USTR does the same. Our government must hold Canada accountable.”

  • New Dairy, Livestock Insurance Options for Better Protection, Flexibility

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated three key crop insurance options for livestock producers: the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), Livestock Gross Margin (LGM), and Livestock Risk Protection (LRP). USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) revised the insurance options to reach more producers, offer greater flexibility for protecting their operations, and ultimately, better meet the needs of the country’s swine, dairy, and cattle producers. The updates were published last week for the 2023 crop year, which begins July 1, 2022.

    “Great and sound customer service is the most important thing we can provide our nation’s producers, making sure the programs and products we offer give them the most useful tools for covering their risks,” said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. “Agriculture is not a static industry, and these updates reflect the importance we place on always knowing the evolving needs of producers and offering the most people the best risk management tools we can.”

    DRP is designed to insure against unexpected declines in the quarterly revenue from milk sales relative to a guaranteed coverage level; LGM protects against the loss of gross margin (or livestock’s market value minus feed costs); and LRP provides protection against price declines.

    Producers will now have more flexibility for DRP, LGM, and LRP, when indemnities are used to pay premiums, which can help producers manage their operation’s cash flow. With these updates, producers can now have both LGM and LRP policies, although they cannot insure the same class of livestock for the same time period or have the same livestock insured under multiple policies.

    Additional updates by insurance option include:

    Dairy Revenue Protection

    • Dairy producers are now able to continue coverage even if they experience a disaster, such as a barn fire, at their operation.

    Livestock Gross Margin

    • Cattle, Dairy, and Swine coverage has been expanded, making it available in all counties in all 50 states.   

    Livestock Risk Protection

    • Insurance companies are now required to pay indemnities within 30 days, rather than the previous 60 days, following the receipt of the claim form.  
    • Head limits have been increased:     
    o Fed Cattle: 12,000 head per endorsement and 25,000 head per crop year
    o Feeder Cattle: 12,000 head per endorsement and 25,000 head per crop year
    o Swine: 70,000 head per endorsement and 750,000 head per crop year
    • The termination date under LRP has been extended from June 30 to August 31  
    • Location reporting requirements have been relaxed to list only state and county, instead of the precise legal location.  

    Learn more on RMA’s Livestock Insurance Plans webpage. Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator.

    More Information

    These improvements to livestock insurance options build on other efforts by USDA to improve programs for livestock producers. Recently, USDA expanded the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish to cover transportation costs of livestock to feed as well as feed to livestock. And USDA expanded Dairy Margin Coverage to enable dairy producers to enroll supplemental coverage.

  • Congress Demands Canada Meet its USMCA Dairy Commitments, Earning Dairy’s Praise

    The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) expressed their deep appreciation for robust Congressional support on ensuring Canada fully honors its U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) dairy market access commitments. Recently, several leading members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack calling on the administration to reject Canada’s recent dairy proposals and insist on real reform.

    Last month, Canada proposed inconsequential changes to its dairy tariff-rate quota (TRQ) allocations after a USMCA dispute panel found in January that Canada’s existing rules do not meet USMCA requirements. Led by Reps. Ron Kind (D-WI), Tom Reed (R-NY), Antonio Delgado (D-NY), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Jim Costa (D-CA), and David Valadao (R-CA), the letter argues that Canada must bring its dairy TRQs into alignment with its USMCA commitments, which would further open Canada’s market to U.S. dairy products. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has sent a similar letter pointing out that Canada’s USMCA dairy TRQ proposal is insufficient to deliver on USMCA’s promise for dairy exporters on March 4.

    “The USMCA is not a list of optional suggestions and aspirational ambitions. Yet Canada has treated its obligations to American dairy producers as a game, seeing what they can get away with,” said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of NMPF. “Congress rightfully recognizes this must stop. If we do not require our allies meet their signed commitments, then our trade agreements are not worth the paper they are printed on.”

    “USDEC appreciates this strong bipartisan support focused on ensuring that American dairy exporters receive the benefits that was negotiated in the USMCA,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “We are committed to continuing to work with the U.S. government to make sure that the dairy market access negotiated with Canada is provided in full to the benefit of both American dairy farmers and manufacturers, and Canadian consumers alike.”

    The bipartisan House letter sent today states, “A deal’s a deal; it’s not too much to ask that our trading partners live up to their end of the bargain. That is why it is critical that this compliance stage of the USMCA dairy case demonstrate that the USMCA enforcement process works – not just to deliver the right finding, as it did in January – but to ensure faithful implementation of the overall agreement and drive real, tangible reforms that are seen on store shelves, to the benefit of American dairy producers and manufacturers, just as USMCA intended.”

    The National Milk Producers Federation, based in Arlington, VA, develops and carries out policies that advance dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. NMPF’s member cooperatives produce more than two-thirds of U.S. milk, making NMPF dairy’s voice on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more, visit www.nmpf.org.

    The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) is a non-profit, independent membership organization that represents the global trade interests of U.S. dairy producers, proprietary processors and cooperatives, ingredient suppliers and export traders. Its mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and assist the U.S. industry to increase its global dairy ingredient sales and exports of U.S. dairy products.