News

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: Holiday Retail Spending […]

Today, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the International Cheese Council of Canada (ICCC), the Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ), and Eucolait applaud the findings of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s (USMCA) dispute panel on Canada’s administration of its dairy tariff rate quotas (TRQs). The USMCA panel – the first dispute panel to be established under the Agreement – found elements of Canada’s TRQ administration to be in breach of commitments under the Agreement and has recommended Canada amend its TRQ allocation regulations consistent with USMCA. Canada has until February 3, 2022 to respond to the panel’s findings and make its TRQ regulations consistent with USMCA.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: Dairy Sales Projected […]

As your trade association, IDFA knows that the dairy industry plays a vital role in sustainable food systems by nourishing people, communities, and the planet. But not everyone else knows it. So, how is IDFA making sure policymakers, regulators, and thought leaders know what dairy is doing on sustainability? IDFA staff recently began a set […]

The House version of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) will provide real, long-term solutions for the myriad issues congesting U.S. ports and slowing U.S. dairy exports. The bill places disciplines on ocean carriers’ ability to decline export cargo and when demurrage can be charged, helping to get U.S. exports on the water in a more timely manner. It also strengthens the oversight authority of the Federal Maritime Commission over ocean carriers, the vast majority of which are foreign owned and have no incentive to ensure the successful export of U.S. dairy products.

WASHINGTON, December 6, 2021— Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 (H.R. 4996): “Supply chain bottlenecks—including those at our ports—have grown from difficult to crisis level, causing U.S. dairy businesses to pay steeper costs for inputs, face […]

The dairy industry continues to experience tremendous growth. Taken together, 2020 and 2021 are two of the strongest years on record for dairy sales. However, headwinds for our industry are growing stronger. Congestion at the ports, a shortage of truck drivers, inability to find workers, and unfair trade practices are a few of the many […]

Annual holiday celebration pays tribute to six lawmakers and policy leaders who have deepened the positive impact of U.S. dairy WASHINGTON, Dec. 2, 2021—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has recognized six individuals whose work in federal legislation and food and agricultural policy has helped to advance the economic impact of the U.S. dairy industry. […]

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: School Milk Lifts […]

“IDFA has been working with USDA for a number of months to ensure dairy products including fresh fluid milk and cheese are included in emergency food assistance purchases for food banks. IDFA is pleased to see those efforts come to fruition with yesterday’s series of announcements that USDA aims to make purchases of fresh fluid milk and cheese for food banks across the country using funding outlined in USDA’s Build Back Better strategy.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2021—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), released the following statement today on President Biden’s nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to lead the Food and Drug Administration: “IDFA is pleased to see President Biden nominate a highly qualified public health expert in Dr. Robert Califf to […]

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: A More Expensive […]

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2021—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on Congressional passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: “The International Dairy Foods Association applauds passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—the nation’s largest investment in improving public infrastructure since the […]

Today, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS). The ETS will be effective the day it is published in the Federal Register, which could be as soon as November 5th. Here are the highlights with additional explanation below: The ETS covers private businesses with 100 or more […]

Today, IDFA announced the formation of a Supply Chain Task Force to develop policy recommendations to address severe supply chain disruptions affecting the U.S. dairy industry. The Supply Chain Task Force will work across our industry with partners from other sectors of the economy, the federal government, think tanks, and others to bring actionable solutions to the table. IDFA team members Becky Rasdall, Vice President of Trade Policy and International Affairs, and Donald Grady, Director of Legislative Affairs, will serve as IDFA liaisons for the new Supply Chain Task Force.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced today the formation of a Supply Chain Task Force to develop policy recommendations to address severe supply chain disruptions affecting the U.S. dairy industry. Formation of the task force comes as the food and agriculture sector deals with several mounting challenges including labor shortages, steadily increasing costs for inputs such as ingredients and packaging, and major challenges moving products through sea and land ports. Supply chain challenges are affecting the dairy industry’s ability to remain profitable, support good-paying jobs, and provide healthy, nutritious food to families around the world.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: Sluggish Milk Production; […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) submitted comments recently on the 2022 National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report, which details U.S. concerns with foreign barriers to trade for Congress annually. This year, IDFA’s submission included a range of concerns including newly emerging barriers related to impending halal certification in Egypt to long-standing trade concerns such as Canada’s milk class policies.

IDFA recently welcomed a new Gold Business Partner in Elopak, a leading global supplier of carton packaging and filling equipment in the liquid food industry. Elopak brings freshness to North American customers in both chilled and aseptic liquid dairy products.  Our packaging solutions use renewable, recyclable and sustainably sourced materials. Our iconic Pure-Pak® cartons stands […]

Strategic planning exercise led by IDFA members prepares the dairy industry to thrive in the next decade of change and disruption WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2021—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the broadest trade association representing all segments of the dairy supply chain in the United States, recently completed a pre-competitive strategic planning process led by […]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2021–Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s voluntary short-term goals for sodium content in foods. “IDFA is disappointed in the Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals released today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The goals, […]

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: Dairy Exports Strong […]

IDFA recently welcomed a new member in Milk Specialties Global! “At Milk Specialties Global, our focus is to create high-quality ingredients designed to optimize health and nutrition.“ Milk Specialties Global Human Nutrition is a premier, one-stop nutritional ingredients partner for food manufacturers. MSG’s Human Nutrition division is an industry leading manufacturer of whey and milk […]

IDFA is grateful for Ambassador Katherine Tai’s remarks today regarding U.S.-China trade relations. China has been a top five market for U.S. dairy exports for nearly 20 years. With an increasing supply of U.S. milk coming online in the next decade, cultivating a mutually beneficial trade relationship with China—the largest potential market for dairy—is absolutely critical. However, as Ambassador Tai noted today, we must also hold our trading partners to account for their commitments and actions. That is why IDFA was pleased to hear Ambassador Tai’s pledge to enforce the commitments made by China under the Phase One Agreement and to remain vigilant in defending the interests of U.S. agriculture from any current or future trade distorting practices.

WASHINGTON, September 30, 2021—The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their annual per-capita dairy consumption data today and the story, despite major shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, remains America’s growing love for dairy products of all shapes and sizes. The information from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) adds 2020 data to an accounting of per capita […]

IDFA Points to Schools Struggling to Make Sense of Nutrition Waivers, Calls for Help from USDA to Clarify and Simplify Waiver Process WASHINGTON, September 29, 2021—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), released the following statement today on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement of investments of $1.5 […]

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: 2021 Holiday Season […]

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on the Biden-Harris Administration’s nomination of Elaine Trevino to serve as the chief agriculture negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

IDFA has been working for many months with partners across food production, manufacturing and marketing to lay the groundwork for dairy to continue to occupy a central role in nourishing, sustainable food systems of the future. Here is a summary of IDFA’s efforts to date around the UN Food Systems Summit.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: Uncertainty Hampering Restaurant […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and several IDFA members today offered their support for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new $400 million Dairy Donation Program (DDP). The Department today released a [interim final rule] [notice of funding availability] all but finalizing the DDP and making its $400 million funding available to qualified dairy producers as soon as this fall. The program will ensure U.S. dairy companies are fairly compensated for donating nutritious dairy products to Americans struggling with hunger and food insecurity.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Blimling and Associates, Inc., a dairy research and consulting firm based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Dairy Bar features spotlight data, key policy updates, and a one-minute video that covers timely topics for the dairy industry. The Dairy Bar: Shipping Demand High; […]

Nominations now open for IDFA Laureate, Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, and Food Safety Leadership WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2021—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is seeking nominations for three top awards presented annually to leaders in the dairy industry. Nominations open today and will close on Friday, Oct. 29. Winners will be announced and […]

The International Dairy Foods Association is pleased to see the important changes announced today by USDA to the Thrifty Food Plan, which will increase the average SNAP benefit by $36.24 per person, per month, or $1.19 per day, according to USDA. In their analysis of the program, USDA found that 88% of SNAP participants face challenges in accessing a healthy diet and 61% of SNAP participants reported cost as a main barrier.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2021— After months of advocacy by the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) with U.S. and European officials, the European Commission (EC) decided yesterday to extend the implementation deadline for its new health certificate requirements to Jan. 15, 2022, backing off threats to shut down U.S. dairy exports to EU member states as […]

WASHINGTON, August 9, 2021—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today recognizes 34 dairy companies for their outstanding achievements in worker safety in 2020 with the IDFA Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Award. This is the eighteenth year that IDFA has sponsored this program, highlighting the outstanding workplace safety achievements of U.S. dairy companies. “In announcing these […]

Since its discovery in Wuhan, China in late 2019, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has reached pandemic status, infecting more than 34 million people and causing more than 600,000 deaths in the United States while inflicting widespread economic devastation. Despite the shuttering of businesses, the distancing of civilians, and other measures taken by governments to mitigate […]

The funding bill passed today by the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations is a win for the health and wellness of all Americans. The Committee voted this morning to triple the amount of funding going to support the SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects (HFMIP) as part of the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the USDA, FDA, and related agencies. This program incentivizes SNAP beneficiaries to purchase fluid milk, making it easier for families to get more of the nutrition benefits of milk similar to other programs that encourage purchase of fruits and vegetables. The first HFMIP pilots kicked off earlier this year at three locations in Texas in partnership with the Baylor University Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. Today’s show of support by the Senate and last week’s vote by the House demonstrates growing awareness in Congress about the important role dairy plays in family health and nutrition especially among our most economically and nutritionally vulnerable families.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is pleased to announce that registration for Dairy Forum 2022 opens today. Dairy Forum is back live and in person in 2022 in sunny Palm Desert, Calif. The event will challenge participants with the latest thinking on leadership, policy, technology, people and workforce, economics, and innovation. Dairy Forum is […]

The dairy industry event of the year is back! Are you ready to seize the future? Are you ready to come together with the best and brightest in dairy? Now is your chance. Registration is now open for Dairy Forum 2022!

WASHINGTON, July 26, 2021 – The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is calling on the U.S. government and European Commission (EC) to quickly resolve a regulatory dispute that threatens the export of dairy ingredients produced in the United States and used to make infant formulas and critical adult nutrition products in European Union member states […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today announced that 30 future leaders of the dairy industry have been accepted into the third class of the NextGen Leadership Program, a signature program of IDFA’s People Strategy. This incredible group of emerging leaders was selected based on their experience and scope of responsibility within their organizations. They represent the broad diversity of people and business types across the dairy industry, and we are confident they will make a valuable a positive contribution to this year’s class. They have been identified by their nominating companies as tomorrow’s industry leaders.

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2021—As United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai prepares to travel to La Crosse, Wisconsin to meet with the state’s dairy producers and processors, IDFA’s Becky Rasdall, Vice President of Trade Policy and International Affairs, released this statement:  “Since her appointment, Ambassador Tai has demonstrated a commitment to U.S. dairy producers and processors. […]

With National Ice Cream Day just around the corner, Americans are lining up at scoop shops and grocery checkout lines at near-record numbers to get their favorite flavors of ice cream. Recent data provided to the International Dairy Foods Association show hard ice cream production for the first five months of 2021 is running ahead of last year when hard ice cream production set a five-year high with more than 1 billion gallons. Through mid-May, just before the summer season really kicked into high gear, retail ice cream sales (grocery) were neck and neck with 2020’s record highs when shoppers couldn’t get enough of America’s frozen treat.

After 40 years of waiting since FDA first issued standards for yogurt, the FDA dropped a new final rule on the standard of identity for yogurt in late June, underscoring a lack of transparency in the FDA rulemaking process. Because the rulemaking process has been so severely delayed and because the agency has consulted very little with yogurt makers, the final rule is already out of date before it takes effect. For the most part, FDA relied on comments submitted 12 or more years ago to formulate its final rule—as if technology has not progressed or as if the yogurt making process itself has been trapped in amber like a prehistoric fossil.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has named Matt Herrick as senior vice president of public affairs and communications and executive director of the IDFA Foundation. As senior vice president, Herrick will lead IDFA’s communications and public affairs activities with a particular focus on advancing advocacy priorities, coordinating organizational strategy, and leading media and marketing. Herrick will also launch and lead the new IDFA Foundation this summer, serving as the entity’s executive director responsible for supporting research, grant-making, and strategic collaboration for social impact. He will report to Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of IDFA.

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2021—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced today the promotion of Heather Soubra to the new position of senior vice president, strategic initiatives, effective July 1st. Soubra joined IDFA in 2008 and most recently served as chief of staff for the trade association where she directed the organization’s key initiatives and led […]

The U.S. House Committee on Appropriations this afternoon passed its fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and related agencies. Importantly, the bill would triple current funding for the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive Projects—a pilot program that incentivizes SNAP beneficiaries to purchase fluid milk, making it easier for families to get more of the nutrition benefits of milk. It would also extend flexibilities for schools to continue to offer low-fat flavored milk—a nutrient-dense that provides children with the health benefits they need as they grow—during the upcoming school year.

The past year has made U.S. dairy exporters and importers painfully aware of the global agricultural supply chain’s shortcomings and has resulted in their asking the Administration and Members of Congress for help in fixing it.  The list of IDFA’s members’ pain points in trying to import their ingredients and export their products is both […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is seeking experts in sanitary equipment design from among member dairy companies to fill two open seats on the 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) Steering Committee.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and dairy industry leaders from across the country are virtually meeting this month with Members of Congress to advocate for changes to several Child Nutrition Reauthorization policies and discuss the nutritional benefits of dairy products in child nutrition programs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced it will issue a final rule to modernize the standard of identity for yogurt. The announcement comes more than 20 years after the yogurt industry first petitioned the agency to update the standard of identity and more than 11 years since the agency first issued a proposed rule for a modernized standard of identity for yogurt.

The U.S. dairy industry continues to play a strong role in the U.S., supporting 3.3 million total jobs and $41.6 billion in direct wages, according to the latest economic impact report from the International Dairy Foods Association. IDFA’s 2021 Economic Impact Study, which measures the combined impact of the dairy products industry, showed the U.S. dairy industry’s economic impact totaled $752.93 billion.

This June, IDFA is celebrating the health benefits that dairy products provide, particularly in this moment of great need around the world. All month long, IDFA shared the facts about dairy products' nutritional benefits through our social media platforms with the hashtag #DairyNourishes.

A bipartisan group of more than 50 members of the U.S. House of Representatives today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging USDA to address the underconsumption of dairy foods among American school-aged children, specifically by making permanent a current flexibility that allows schools to offer low-fat flavored milk—a nutrient dense option for improving the quality of children’s diets.

The International Dairy Foods Association today lauded U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai for initiating a formal dispute settlement case over Canada’s manipulation of dairy tariff rate quotas (TRQs) under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

IDFA recently welcomed a new member in Robopac – the world’s largest secondary packaging equipment company. Robopac offers the largest line of configurable machinery to stretch wrap, pack, palletize, erect, and seal any product in the food and beverage, personal care, pharmaceutical, dairy, distribution, and most other industries. Watch the recording Robopac USA2150 Boggs Rd […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has issued the industry’s first-ever U.S. Dairy Trade Principles on Environmental Sustainability, a critical and proactive step as the global community rallies around climate change and initiatives begin to impact international trade.

To highlight and support IDFA members' ongoing commitments and efforts to improve workplace safety, IDFA created a new resource center and social media campaign, #SafetyIsEssential. We encourage you to share your progress with us on IDFA’s Twitter and LinkedIn with the hashtag #SafetyIsEssential. Campaign graphics are available for IDFA members to download and customize in the #SafetyIsEssential Graphics section.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 2021—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s announced that it will soon implement the $400 million Dairy Donation Program established by Congress in December 2020. The department provided details on program participation to dairy processors and cooperatives in order to ensure donations of nutritious dairy products continue to make their way to Americans struggling […]