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<!– wp:paragraph –> <p><strong>WASHINGTON, April 14, 2021</strong>—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to end the Farmers to Families Food Box Program: “The Farmers to Families Food Box Program represented an innovative approach to tackling what was a massive issue last Spring – finding a way to use existing foodservice distribution capacity to deliver nutritious dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and meat to people in need. While we’re optimistic about the positive trajectory of COVID-19 cases, vaccination rates, and the relative normalcy returning to restore our economy, millions of Americans continue to face hunger and nutrition insecurity.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) last week issued its annual National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report, outlining many tariff and non-tariff barriers, including protective measures and technical obstacles to trade. The report includes IDFA’s contributions, which highlight the significant barriers to trade facing U.S. dairy exporters and the need for the new administration to prioritize reducing these barriers.

IDFA today submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on how the department should develop and implement a food purchase and distribution program to provide additional aid to nonprofits serving Americans in need of nutritious food. In the comments, IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M. advocated for dairy products to remain a […]

IDFA recently welcomed a new member in Good Culture, a leader in producing organic, pasture-raised, high-protein, low-sugar, thick and creamy product that never uses gums or thickeners. This disruptive company is dedicated to using only real foods and simple ingredients across their growing portfolio of cultured foods. The overwhelming success of their flagship product led […]

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of theInternational Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), gave video comments today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a food purchase and distribution program to succeed the Farmers to Families Food Box Program created in 2020. In the three minutes allotted to him, Dykes advocated for dairy products to remain a primary component of USDA’s food purchase program for their unparalleled health benefits, and he provided recommendations to the department on crafting a program that does not distort dairy markets.

WASHINGTON, MARCH 18, 2021— IDFA is pleased to see the U.S. House of Representatives pass the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and we’re thankful to U.S. Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Dan Newhouse (R-WA) for introducing the bill, along with their colleagues Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Mike Simpson (R-ID), and the 18 […]

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2021—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on the U.S. Senate confirmation of Katherine Tai to serve as U.S. Trade Representative: “Katherine Tai is an experienced and knowledgeable trade expert who will position U.S. interests above those of competitors, remain vigilant to […]

This February, dairy leaders met with U.S. Senators and Representatives to discuss priority issues for the dairy processing industry during IDFA’s first virtual fly-in of 2021. The multi-week event focused on IDFA’s appropriations priorities and trade issues and marked IDFA’s fourth virtual fly-in since the start of the pandemic.

IDFA applauds Congress for passing a COVID-19 relief bill that will help tackle the hunger and nutrition issues in our country and support the resiliency of our food supply chain. Notably, the package allocates $3.6 billion in funding for USDA food purchases and donations, measures to protect essential workers from COVID-19, and other loans and grants to bolster food industry resiliency. It also expands Pandemic EBT, which has provided meal replacements for children who are attending school virtually due to the pandemic, and expands enrollment in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. While COVID-19 cases have slowed in recent weeks, millions of Americans continue to face hunger and nutrition insecurity amidst the economic fallout of the pandemic.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today issued joint comments on Canada’s Phase II Consultations on its Comprehensive Review of the Allocation and Administration of Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQs) for Dairy, Poultry, and Egg Products. The three organizations, which have repeatedly expressed concerns about Canada’s failure to align its TRQ conditions with its commitments in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), are united in their insistence that Canada must dramatically reform its policies regarding the administration and allocation of its TRQs.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is accepting applications for the Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Awards. Now in its 18th year, the awards honor facilities and trucking operations for outstanding worker safety performance. Among numerous award criteria, IDFA refers to both leading and lagging indicators recommended by health and safety experts as essential factors within a worker safety program.

Since its release in July 2020, IDFA has supported the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety Blueprint, which, among other initiatives, outlines a goal for the food industry to track and trace foods along the supply chain from farm to fork facilitated by computer-based technology. Stemming from this initiative is a new proposed rule from FDA that stands to impose burdensome recordkeeping requirements for the food industry that would work against the agency’s goal of faster traceback investigations.

This Women’s History Month, IDFA recognized industry leaders who are driving positive change in areas from diversity and inclusion to technology and innovation. We sat down with Beth Ford, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes Inc. Land O’Lakes a Fortune 200 food production and agribusiness company and IDFA member. Since joining the company in 2011, […]

WASHINGTON, February 25, 2021—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on the COVID-19 relief package being considered by Congress: “IDFA applauds Congress for advancing a COVID-19 relief bill that, if passed, would help tackle the hunger and nutrition issues in our country and support the […]

WASHINGTON, February 23, 2021—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on today’s confirmation of Tom Vilsack to be the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. “The International Dairy Foods Association congratulates Mr. Vilsack on his confirmation to lead USDA as the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. As Mr. […]

Despite significant disruptions in trade throughout 2020, the United States exported nearly 2.4 million metric tons of dairy goods last year–a record-setting mark, according to data released today by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).

IDFA today announced new members of the organization’s Executive Council as well as new directors for the group’s five Industry Segment Boards. IDFA’s Executive Council is composed of executives from across the dairy foods industry and focuses on the business and operations of the association. The five Industry Segment Boards represent fluid milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt and cultured products, and dairy-derived ingredients, and are composed of experts and executives who help drive policy and strategy alongside the association’s leadership.

To relive your favorite moments, visit the Dairy Forum 2021 hub on the IDFA Knowledge Center. Session recordings will be made available beginning Tuesday, February 2, to all registered attendees, and for purchase to non-registrants.

WASHINGTON, January 27, 2021—Homestead Dairy of Plymouth, Ind. was recognized today as the 2021 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year at the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Dairy Forum. The award is presented each year by IDFA and Dairy Herd Management magazine. Homestead Dairy is one of the largest robotic farms in North America and […]

Dairy Farmers of America received the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) 2021 Food Safety Leadership Award during IDFA’s Dairy Forum today. The award was presented to the DFA Dairy Brands Division Food Safety and Quality Assurance Team and was accepted by Roger Hooi, DFA’s vice president of quality assurance, food safety and regulatory. The award, now in its fifth year, honors an individual, group or organization for demonstrating outstanding leadership directed at enhancing food safety within the dairy products industry.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today recognized the remarkable leadership of Sue Taylor, vice president of dairy economics and policy for Leprino Foods Company, by honoring her with the IDFA Laureate Award during the association’s annual Dairy Forum. Now in its second year, the IDFA Laureate Award is given to a leader in the dairy industry who has made significant, prolonged contributions to the development and growth of dairy. Candidates from across the dairy industry as well as suppliers and academics are eligible, and the awardee is chosen by a panel of industry professionals.

Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, congratulated Joseph R. Biden Jr. on becoming the 46th President of the United States.

You may have seen news stories suggesting COVID-19 can be transmitted via frozen foods, such as ice cream, or packaging. Rest assured, there are no reports of individuals contracting COVID-19 via consuming any food, or via handling packaging. More than a dozen public health authorities from around the world, including the World Health Organization (WHO), […]

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the appointment of Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), and Becky Rasdall, IDFA vice president of trade policy and international affairs, to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee (APAC) for Trade and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Processed Foods, respectively.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), representing all products and segments in the U.S. dairy industry, announced today that Robert Rosado has been named Senior Director, Legislative Affairs within IDFA’s Legislative Affairs and Economic Policy team. In his new role, Rosado will develop and implement legislative strategies to support IDFA’s policy goals.

Product Offerings Company Contacts Sustainable Solutions IDFA recently recognized Amcor for upgrading its membership to Gold Business Partner. Amcor is a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, medical, home- and personal-care, and other products. The company’s roots began in the dairy space, and it continues its commitment to grow […]

The International Dairy Foods Association, representing all segments in the U.S. dairy industry, applauded the release today of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans affirming that dairy products will maintain their historically important role in federal nutrition recommendations, including recommending most Americans consume three servings of dairy each day.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is recognizing six federal policymakers whose work has positively impacted the trajectory of U.S. dairy. IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., recognized Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota, Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota, Representative Jim Costa of California, Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Brandon Lipps with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Lorren Walker, chief of staff, Office of the Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at USDA.

Although we will begin 2021 in a virtual setting, Women in Dairy is looking forward to a new year filled with opportunities to work together to make our lives and the lives of our families and organizations even more productive and fulfilling than they are today.

This blog is part 2 of a two-part series by Becky Rasdall, vice president of trade policy and international affairs at IDFA, examining what dairy businesses can expect from the coming Biden administration relating to trade. On January 7, Becky will be hosting a member-only webinar, “Trade Policy 101 for the U.S. Dairy Industry,” on […]

In a Morning Consult poll conducted December 4-7 for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) among a national sample of 2,200 adults, 71% of adults across political affiliations and age groups support companies and employers partnering with public health agencies at local and state levels to aid in the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine to employees. The same poll found more than four in five adults believe food workers—manufacturing, retail and farm workers, among others—should be made a priority when it comes to being among the first to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

This blog is part 1 of a two-part series by Becky Rasdall, vice president of trade policy and international affairs at IDFA, examining what dairy businesses can expect from the coming Biden administration relating to trade. On January 7, Becky will be hosting a member-only webinar, “Trade Policy 101 for the U.S. Dairy Industry,” on […]

WASHINGTON, December 9, 2020—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today on President-elect Joe Biden’s expected nomination of Tom Vilsack as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. “The International Dairy Foods Association is pleased to see news of Mr. Vilsack’s expected nomination to lead USDA by President-Elect Biden. […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today applauded the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for announcing that it is initiating consultations with the government of Canada under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) over Canada’s failure to ensure its tariff rate quota (TRQ) administration for dairy products meets the terms of USMCA. IDFA has expressed its concern and engaged the U.S. and Canadian governments on Canada’s TRQ administration since USMCA went into force in July 2020.

The October 2020 data shows U.S. dairy exports continuing to set a strong pace across the board. Of the high performers in the latest data, IDFA notes significant growth in dried and modified whey and milk powder exports to China, unsurprising given China’s swine herd restocking goals; in skim milk powder and lactose to Indonesia; in skim milk powder and various kinds of whey and lactose to Vietnam; in skim milk powder and cheeses to Colombia; and in cheese, lactose, and cream to Taiwan.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) congratulates Congressman David Scott on his election as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Given his longstanding leadership on issues important to our industry—including co-creating the current safety net for dairy farmers in the 2014 Farm Bill—we look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Scott and other members of the Committee in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that our nation’s nutrition programs are designed to encourage consumption of healthy and nutritious dairy products.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) congratulates Congressman GT Thompson on his election as Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee. Given his personal background in the dairy industry and leadership on issues important to our industry, we look forward to continuing to work with Congressman Thompson and other members of the Committee in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that all of our nation’s nutrition programs are designed to encourage consumption of healthy and nutritious dairy products.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2020—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., President and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association, released the following statement today in support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed rule that would maintain flexibility in USDA child nutrition program meal requirements related to milk: “According to the federal government, American children and adolescents over four […]

When you register for Dairy Forum 2021, you’re unlocking access to a state-of-the-art virtual platform that has been custom-built to provide our dairy industry professionals with the tools to network, hear from leading thinkers and celebrate our industry. You’ve been on hundreds of Zoom meetings this year, but Dairy Forum 2021 is unlike anything you’ve seen before. This is a 3D virtual environment that you can navigate through just the same as you would an in-person conference, making Dairy Forum more accessible than ever before.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) submitted a robust set of comments to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the National Trade Estimate (NTE) Report on Foreign Trade Barriers to U.S. Exports for 2021. Each year, USTR publishes the NTE Report to highlight barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services, U.S. foreign direct investment, and the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Today’s dairy business leaders want to continue to lead our evolving industry through these challenges to ensure a prosperous future for dairy. That’s the focus of IDFA right now — to position our industry to evolve, to attract diverse talent, to mitigate the impact of extraneous factors and to continue to deliver the nutritious, wholesome and delicious products that consumers across the world have come to expect from the dairy industry.

To say the COVID-19 pandemic changed the strategies and tactics he has traditionally relied on to ensure IDFA member voices are heard by policymakers is to put it lightly. The normally bustling halls of Congress and federal agency buildings are now quiet. Lawmakers and policymakers are avoiding the in-person meetings, hearings, happy hours, press conferences and conferences that allow advocates to communicate the importance of various legislative and regulatory efforts. And without a significant mitigation of the coronavirus in sight, this new way of conducting business virtually is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

The new Dietary Guidelines will, for the next five years, determine federal nutrition messaging and set important standards for federal nutrition programs like school meals. Billions of federal dollars are spent every year on these programs to provide Americans with advice on and access to wholesome, nutritious foods like milk and dairy products.

In a letter to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, the nation’s dairy industry urges the federal government to release dietary guidelines that reflect the latest, peer-reviewed science showing the benefits of making dairy part of a healthy dietary pattern for all Americans.

U.S. dairy exports are posting positive gains in value and volume to markets around the world and are keeping pace with other animal product exports. U.S. dairy exports are up in 8 of our top 10 export markets by both value and volume over the same period in 2019. In August, U.S. dairy exports resumed their strong pace from earlier this year, increasing 14% by value since January over the same period last year. This sustained growth puts U.S. dairy exports this year more than $600 million ahead of the same period last year, with primary gains by value appearing in China, Canada, Vietnam, and Australia.

The U.S. dairy industry annually exports more than $5 billion in product – from cheese to whey to ice cream to skim milk powder and everything in between. The ease of trade can, in part, be attributed to the fact that many nations around the world have adopted or based national regulations on food standards developed by the United Nations’ Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) applauded today’s joint announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that they agencies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ease U.S. dairy exports, in which each agency’s roles and responsibilities are clearly delineated.

Hygiena™ is committed to providing rapid microbial detection, monitoring, and identification systems to improve food safety globally. Hygiena’s products include the Innovate System which provides product quality control data for UHT-processed and aseptically filled products, ensuring long shelf life. A supporting product for non-UHT pasteurized food testing is ZymoSnap ALP. Hygiena’s EnSURE™ Touch Monitoring System […]

The World Trade Organization (WTO) stands on the brink of significant change, with the candidacy for its Director General (DG) position up for grabs and a host of major WTO member countries, including the United States, calling for its reform. The proposed reform options and DG candidates have the potential to make a difference for […]

IDFA recently welcomed a Gold Business Partner in Closure Systems International (CSI), a global leader in closure supply and capping equipment. CSI currently supplies 13 high-performing closures to the liquid dairy market including our new 38D-KL, with even more dairy closure profiles launching soon. With a proactive approach to performance, service, and sustainability, CSI is […]

Subscribe to The Dairy Download on Stitcher, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. WASHINGTON and MADISON, Wisc., Sept. 17, 2020 – The International Dairy Foods Association and Blimling and Associates are partnering to produce “The Dairy Download,” a new podcast for anyone who follows the twists and turns of the U.S. dairy industry. Witty, fast-moving […]

WASHINGTON, September 14, 2020—Americans are turning to dairy products at a rate never seen before, according to the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS). New ERS data on annualized per capita consumption of dairy point to cheese, butter and yogurt categories driving substantial growth in per capita consumption of dairy, which reached a record high in […]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2020—As part of our commitment to honoring excellence across the dairy industry, 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. 30. Winners will be announced and recognized at Dairy Forum […]

Last week, IDFA reported that U.S. dairy exports to China in July were still trending positively relative to 2019, citing China’s restocking of its swine inventory after an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in 2018 and 2019 decimated its herd. by. IDFA reported: Possible return to 2018 levels of dairy exports to China, pending year-end […]

Today the U.S. Department of Agriculture released July 2020 agricultural export data through the Foreign Agricultural Service’s Global Agricultural Trade System.  After reviewing the data, I want to note the following trends for our IDFA members: Overall value and volume growth of 14% in global U.S. dairy exports over 2019:  Although U.S. dairy exports globally […]

IDFA's goal is bring the Dairy Forum experience to a much broader audience in January with a virtual event.

While you may be aware of USDA AMS solicitations for food purchases in support of various programs like the National School Lunch Program, the new Food Box Program, and other federal nutrition programs, you may not know that for AMS to obtain these commodity purchases they need a specification for each product.

IDFA recently welcomed a new member in Contec Group International, a leading New Zealand milk supply chain management software company. Contec provides solutions trusted by dairy processors and producers around the world, including their premier product, Madcap (Milk Analysis, Data Capture and Processing). Learn more about Contec Group International below. Contec Group International Ltd. Mailing […]

On Saturday, August 8, IDFA placed an ad in The Forum of Fargo-Morehead (The Forum) in support of U.S. Representative Collin Peterson, D-Minn., whose primary election was on Tuesday, August 11.

Editorial Note: On Thursday, August 13, IDFA submitted written comments to USDA and HHS on the important role dairy products play in healthy diets of Americans. WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2020—Joseph Scimeca, Ph.D., senior vice president for regulatory and scientific affairs with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) in Washington, D.C., gave video comments today to […]