News

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: HPAI Impacts on Dairy; The Bitter Taste of Expensive Cocoa; and Easter Spending in a Minute! […]

By: Mike Brown, Chief Economist, IDFA Earlier this week, IDFA’s outside counsel submitted our post-hearing brief to USDA. This comprehensive document reiterates IDFA’s positions on the 22 proposed changes to the Federal Milk Marketing Order system that were considered during a recently concluded public hearing. You can read IDFA’s comments here. Following several years of […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today began accepting applications for the Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Awards. Now in its 21st year, the awards honor dairy processing facilities and trucking operations for outstanding worker safety performance and management.

Earlier today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two dairy cattle herds in Texas and two herds in Kansas. Importantly, USDA confirmed that there is no threat to human health and milk and dairy products remain safe to consume. Pasteurization (high heat treatment) kills harmful microbes and pathogens in milk, including the influenza virus.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Job Market Stronger Than Anticipated, Consumers Grapple With Higher Restaurant Prices, and U.S. Cheese in a […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced new roles and responsibilities for three members of the association’s executive team today, as well as the retirement of IDFA’s longtime senior vice president of finance and administration, Neil Moran.

The lack of an adequate workforce represents the most concrete threat to the efficient operation of dairy processors who work tirelessly to supply healthy, nutrient-dense dairy products to consumers. Yet dairy processors do not have access to a reliable labor pool through our country’s most prominent guestworker program, H-2A. While Congress hasn’t passed meaningful immigration and guestworker program reform in recent years, a new report from the House Agriculture Committee’s Agricultural Labor Working Group provides new momentum for the push to expand the H-2A program to include dairy farms and manufacturers.

The U.S. Congress this week passed fiscal year 2024 (FY2024) appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. The bill includes several provisions aimed at promoting dairy’s nutritional importance in the healthy diets of Americas, in particular an appropriation of $3 million for the expansion of Healthy Fluid Milk Incentive (HFMI) projects.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today voted to finalize their climate disclosure rules, which provide requirements for domestic publicly traded corporations to begin reporting on their climate-related risks, impacts, and management strategies. While the SEC initially proposed to include Scope 3 (i.e. value chain) emissions in these reporting requirements, this emissions scope is excluded from the final rules.

To help consumers better identify yogurt, frozen yogurt, and other cultured dairy products containing live and active yogurt cultures, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is relaunching its Live & Active Cultures (LAC) Seal for manufacturers.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today voted to finalize new climate disclosure rules for publicly traded companies. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) believes the SEC decision to exclude Scope 3 emissions is a recognition of U.S. food and agriculture’s leadership on sustainability. IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M. released the following […]

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: U.S. Milk Production Dips 1.1% YOY, Strong Mexican Peso Could Fair Well for U.S. Dairy Exports, […]

By Becky Rasdall, vice president, trade policy and international affairs, IDFA Last week’s World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference (MC13) ended without significant progress on WTO reform for agriculture, a binding dispute settlement system, or improved market access for U.S. dairy exporters—an unsurprising result that reflects the lethargic U.S. trade policy agenda. As we look […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is pleased with the decision published today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve the first-ever qualified health claim for yogurt, recognizing a potential link between its regular consumption and a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes. The FDA’s decision came in response to a petition submitted by Danone North America. The new claim is available for all yogurt makers.

What today we recognize as Women’s History Month began in 1981 as a weeklong national celebration to acknowledge the achievements and contributions women have made to the United States throughout its history. It has since expanded to take place during the entire month of March, designated through an annual proclamation by the President each year. […]

The International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) Healthy School Milk Commitment was officially recognized today at a special event organized by the White House to announce new commitments under the Biden-Harris administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. IDFA’s Healthy School Milk Commitment is a pledge by 37 school milk processors representing approximately 95% of the school milk volume in the United States to provide healthy, nutritious school milk options with no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounce serving, fully consistent with the latest federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans and ahead of current school meal nutrition guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Commitment was expanded recently to include USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, a federally funded program that provides healthy meals and snacks to up to 3.2 million low-income children and teens during the summer months when schools are out of session and access to consistent, daily nutrition is limited.

As the 13th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference kicked off in Abu Dhabi today, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) stressed the importance of reform and highlighted ways that the U.S. government can work to break the gridlock that has hampered U.S. dairy exports in recent years.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2024 – IDFA provided written comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the proposed 2024-2025 National School Foods Study. The comments outlined why a new study remains important to understanding the implementation and use of the school meal programs, including the National School Lunch […]

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Analysts Expect Restaurant Sales Record, More Consumers Dining at Home Amid Inflation, and U.S. Dairy Trade […]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2024—Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), released the following statement today on the U.S. agricultural export data for calendar year 2023 released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “The 2023 agricultural export data released today by USDA is a mixed bag for U.S. dairy. While […]

The 2023 agricultural export data released today by USDA is a mixed bag for U.S. dairy. While U.S. agriculture is experiencing a trade imbalance, U.S. dairy is pleased to be an outlier enjoying a sizeable trade surplus. However, total U.S. dairy export value fell by $1.5 billion while volume declined by 7% in 2023, underscoring a clear need for U.S. trade officials to focus on creating new, preferential market opportunities for American producers and food exporters while holding trade partners accountable to rules and agreements.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: U.S. Dairy Herd Inventory Down; Super Bowl Food Prep Spells Boon for Dairy; and Butter in […]

For 12 years, students in U.S. public schools have not been able to access the milk options that they prefer and consume at home: whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk. As the U.S. Senate considers the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023—bipartisan legislation to reinstate these nutritious milk options in school meals—a new Morning Consult poll of parents with children in public shows near unanimous support for the bill.

For this Black History Month, IDFA is recognizing leaders who helped to shape our nation’s food and agriculture system, from education and farming, to nutrition and innovation.

CARMEL, Ind., Jan. 30, 2023—The following statement can be attributed to Mike Brown, chief economist, International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA): “The U.S. dairy industry continues to go through a period of evolution and transition that has opened new opportunities for growth and presented significant new challenges for all participants throughout the dairy value chain, namely […]

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2024 – IDFA provided written comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on strategies to reduce added sugar consumption following oral comments delivered at a recent public meeting hosted by FDA. Specifically, these comments focused on the evaluation of existing approaches to reduce added sugars […]

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Restaurants Outpacing Grocery Sales; Increasing Milkfat Content in Fluid Milk; and Grains in a Minute! Quick […]

PHOENIX, Jan. 24, 2024—Schreiber Foods Inc. was recognized today with the first annual IDFA Workplace of the Year Award at IDFA’s Dairy Forum in Phoenix, Ariz. The award, co-sponsored by IDFA and Dairy Processing magazine, is given each year to an outstanding IDFA member company that has created policies to promote a positive workplace experience […]

The IDFA Foundation along with several leading dairy companies and food retailers donated more than 33,000 pounds of nutritious milk and dairy foods as well as $15,000 in financial contributions to St. Mary’s Food Bank in recent weeks to address hunger in Arizona. The donations were announced in Phoenix at the Dairy Forum 2024 conference hosted by the International Dairy Foods Association. Donations of nutritious milk, cheese, and yogurt were made by The Kroger Company, Diversified Foods, Inc., and Lactalis USA. In addition, Albertsons Companies Foundation and Schreiber Foods Inc. joined the IDFA Foundation in making a combined financial contribution of $15,000 to St. Mary’s. The donations will provide more than 72,000 meals to food insecure families throughout Phoenix and nine Arizona counties.

Bateman’s Mosida Farms of Mosida, Utah was recognized today as the 2024 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.

Rob Shumaker of Great Lakes Cheese received the International Dairy Foods Association’s (IDFA) 2024 Food Safety Leadership Award during IDFA’s Dairy Forum today. The award, now in its eighth year, honors an individual, group or organization for demonstrating outstanding leadership directed at enhancing food safety within the dairy products industry.

You do not have permission to view this item The President’s Breakfast View the PowerPoint presentation here. As delivered January 22, 2024. Welcome to Dairy Forum 2024. I hope you’re excited. I hope you’re ready to elevate for dairy! How about Scott Pelley last night? Did you enjoy that? Think about the places that man’s […]

IDFA's first ever State of Women in Dairy report provides IDFA members and dairy industry with data-based metrics and recommendations to support gender equality across the entire supply chain.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today recognized the remarkable leadership of Ricky Dickson, former CEO and president of Blue Bell Creameries, with the IDFA Laureate Award during the association’s annual Dairy Forum. Now in its fifth 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.

The International Dairy Foods Association (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 drive policy and strategy alongside the association’s leadership. Together, the Executive Council and Industry Segment Boards make up IDFA’s governance structure and ensure that IDFA represents and engages all segments of the growing dairy industry in the United States.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: U.S. Cheese Stocks Down Despite Production Rise; Middle East Upheaval Yet to Roil Gas Prices; and […]

December 2023 By Mike Aquino, director, ESG, International Dairy Foods Association Each time a Conference of the Parties (COP) is convened, a diverse group of stakeholders from around the world comes together to discuss approaches to global climate management. These conferences are large undertakings. COP28, which just came to a close in Dubai, hosted approximately […]

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2023—a bill that would allow for whole and reduced-fat varieties of milk to once again be served in school cafeterias.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Weight Loss Drugs Impact Food Sales; Cheese Consumption Hits All-Time High; and Countdown to 2024 in […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today urged swift passage of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, which would allow for whole and reduced-fat varieties of milk to once again be served in school cafeterias, enjoys strong bipartisan support of 134 cosponsors in the House. The chamber is expected to vote on the legislation this week.

  About GELPAC: As a North American leader in Mutiwall Bags for the dairy industry, GELPAC is recognized for flexibility and expertise in delivering high-quality products that meet the exact specifications of each client. GELPAC has a network of high-performance packaging plants including mutiwall paper bags and poly plants located in Canada and USA. By […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today recognized six individuals whose leadership in food, nutrition and agricultural policymaking has helped to support the U.S. dairy industry. At the annual Celebration of Dairy event held at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., IDFA President and CEO Michael Dykes, D.V.M., recognized the following officials with the IDFA Leadership Award: U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jerry Moran of Kansas and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan; U.S. Reps. John Moolenaar of Michigan and Dan Newhouse of Washington; and Under Secretary Alexis Taylor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Americans are writing a new chapter in their love affair with dairy products, according to fresh data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) which reports per capita consumption of all dairy products reached 653 pounds per person in 2022, 63 pounds above the historical average dating back to 1975 when USDA began tracking per capita dairy consumption. Cheese consumption set an all-time high in 2022 to reach nearly 42 pounds per person, a half-a-pound per-person increase over the previous year. For comparison, the average American consumed 32.2 pounds of cheese in 2000 and 21.9 pounds in 1980. Ice cream consumption in 2022 also edged out the previous year, while other dairy products including yogurt and butter remained consistent with recent year highs.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: High Restaurant Prices Spur More Home Cooking; Cooling Labor Market Could Freeze Interest Rates; and Global […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released grant-approval to significantly expand the Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects (HFMI)—a program established in the 2018 Farm Bill and one of the Department’s key nutrition incentive programs for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). HFMI pilot projects currently operate in more than 150 retail outlets in six states, providing SNAP beneficiaries with a dollar-for-dollar match when they purchase healthy fluid milk options. Today’s USDA award announcement utilizes $4 million in FY2023 congressional appropriations to Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) to bring the program to an additional 13 states and 575 retail outlets, including locations in rural communities, counties with persistently high poverty rates, low-income and low access census tracts, and Tribal Nations and surrounding tribal communities.

In a surprising setback for U.S. dairy, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) dispute settlement panel upheld Canada’s manipulative dairy quota administration practices, leaving U.S. dairy exporters struggling to realize the market access granted in the trade agreement. Despite the tireless efforts of the U.S. government team, this ruling reflects a glaring failure to safeguard the most fundamental rights outlined in the USMCA.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2023 – IDFA provided comments to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) on the protocols governing systematic reviews to address the scientific questions of the 2025 DGAC. These comments specifically focused on the protocols on food sources of saturated fat and cardiovascular disease, beverages sweetened with low- and no-calorie sweeteners, and food […]

The continuing resolution passed this week includes an extension of the 2018 Farm Bill that will allow important dairy-related programs to continue to operate until September 30, 2024. The Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives Projects—a dairy nutrition incentive program for SNAP participants—will be eligible to receive additional appropriations to continue its significant expansion to reach more communities across the country in 2024. In addition, the Farm Bill extension permits USDA to restart the Dairy Forward Pricing Program as soon as the legislation is signed into law by the President, avoiding the need for a time-consuming rulemaking process similar to the one that was required to ‘restart’ the program after it lapsed in 2018.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Major Retailers Offer Holiday Meal Bundles; Cottage Cheese Makes a Comeback; and State of the American […]

About Minerva Dairy: At Minerva Dairy, we don’t JUST make butter… We eat, sleep, and dream butter! We make better butter because we’re better at making butter. It would be hard not to after 125 years! We’re all still living by Grandma Lorraine’s adage, “There’s not much in life that can’t be made better with […]

The FDA Foods Coalition was launched today to advocate for a modernized, effective foods program at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) focused on preventing foodborne illness outbreaks and other food safety risks, and decreasing diet-related chronic diseases. Made up of consumer advocates, food industry representatives, public health groups, and state and local regulators, the Coalition will educate policymakers, media and the public about improving the governance of the FDA Human Foods Program.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Restaurant Prices Climb; Conflict in Middle East Disrupts Crude Oil Markets; and Halloween Spending in a […]

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2023 – IDFA submitted comments to inform the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) report on foreign trade barriers, which included Canada’s import policies and subsidies, Egypt’s technical barriers to trade, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures implemented by India and Indonesia.  IDFA appreciates the opportunity to comment on these barriers to trade and […]

Michael Dykes, president & CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), reinforced the dairy industry’s commitment to creating an inclusive culture that fosters professional development and empowerment for all people throughout their careers today at the 2023 IDF World Dairy Summit.

This article is excerpted from Issue 1: IDF Women in Dairy Report 2023 – Unlocking Endless Potential.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Personal Savings on the Decline; U.S. Dollar Strength on the Incline; and U.S. Trade in a […]

Earlier this month, California legislators passed the first mandatory climate disclosure bills in the United States as part of a “Climate Accountability Package.” If signed into law, these corporate disclosure requirements will be administered by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).</p> <!– /wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph –> <p>The two bills—one mandating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting and the other requiring climate-related financial risk disclosures—aim to drive transparency and progress in corporate climate risk management. Governor Gavin Newsom has stated his intention to sign both bills pending minor revisions and is expected to sign them before October 14.

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Despite Inflation, Cheese Competing With Other Proteins; Holiday Spending Expected to Be Down; and Ice Cream […]

Read the latest issue of The Dairy Bar, a bi-weekly report from IDFA partner Ever.Ag. 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: Inflation Hinders Labor Day Spending; Mexico Buying More U.S. Dairy; and Passport to New Zealand! Quick […]

Roberta Wagner, senior vice president for regulatory and scientific affairs with the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), provided oral testimony today to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC)—a panel of 20 nutrition and public health experts tasked with providing a scientific report to inform the federal government’s next update to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). In her testimony, Wagner stressed that 90 percent of Americans do not consume enough dairy to meet dietary recommendations, according to the 2020-2025 DGA report. Wagner urged the committee to maintain nutrient-rich dairy foods as a central part of a healthy diet, and she stressed that new science shows that limiting dairy based on fat level—as current guidelines recommend—does not lead to better health outcomes.