News

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the Food and Agriculture – Information Sharing Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) today announced a new strategic partnership to bolster the dairy industry’s defenses against cyber criminals who are increasingly targeting food and beverage manufacturers.

By Jing Hagert, vice president of international sales, Milk Specialties Global The White House’s top trade official visited Minneapolis last week to talk about how President Biden has expanded opportunities for U.S. farmers and exporters. There is no question that agricultural exports under President Biden have fared well for Minnesota and the rest of the […]

WASHINGTON, September 7, 2023—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced today it has joined the steering committee of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA). FACA consists of more than 80 organizations representing farmers, ranchers, forest owners, agribusinesses, manufacturers, the food and innovation sector, state governments, sportsmen and sportswomen, and environmental advocates. The organizations have […]

About Tirlàn: Tirlán is a world-class food and nutrition business, with a diverse portfolio of quality ingredients, leading consumer and agri brands. The farmer-owned co-operative has a first-class track record of success in the global market.​ We’re passionate about nature’s goodness. Our products have been enjoyed in homes for over half a century and we […]

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: Droughts Causing Uncertainty in Key Shipping Lanes; New Zealand Dairy Prices Hit New Lows; and Butterfat […]

By Becky Rasdall, vice president, trade policy and international affairs, Women in Dairy network lead In a recent survey of IDFA’s Women in Dairy network, an overwhelming 61% of respondents indicated that gender has played a role in missing out on a raise, promotion, key assignment, or chance to get ahead. Among those with fewer […]

The International Dairy Foods Association applauds Commissioner Califf’s appointment of Jim Jones as the first Deputy Commissioner for the Human Foods Program with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Jim’s vast government leadership experience uniquely qualifies him to navigate the transformational change FDA needs to elevate, unify, and shape the human foods program for the future. IDFA supports his appointment, and we will look forward to opportunities to work with Jim to prioritize stakeholder engagement and enhance transparency across the FDA’s 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 Sales Up Amid Inflation; American Wages and Income on the Rise; and Back-to-School Spending in […]

Nominations now open for IDFA Laureate, Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, Food Safety Leadership, and Workplace of the Year WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2023—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is seeking nominations for four top awards presented annually to leaders in the dairy industry. Nominations open today and will close on Friday, Oct. 27. Winners […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has named Mariah MacKenzie communications coordinator within the communications department. MacKenzie will manage content across IDFA’s social media platforms, publications, and communications products. She will report to Andrew Jerome, associate vice president, communications.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) recognized 25 dairy business operations for their outstanding achievements and improvements in worker safety in 2022 with the IDFA Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Award. This is the 20th year that IDFA has sponsored this program, highlighting the outstanding workplace safety achievements of U.S. dairy companies.

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) highlights that 90% of Americans do not consume enough milk and other nutritious dairy products.Bipartisan legislation introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate seeks to address this significant gap by increasing access to nutritious dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt and other cultured dairy products among participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) submitted comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in support of the agency’s position that consumers need additional clarity on the labels of plant-based “milk” alternatives, such as “soy milk” and “almond milk,” to more easily discern when these beverages are nutritionally different from milk.

WASHINGTON, August 1, 2023—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today announced that 30 emerging leaders of the dairy industry have been accepted into the fifth cohort of the NextGen Leadership Program, a signature program of IDFA’s People Strategy. The group of emerging leaders was selected based on their experience and scope of responsibility within their […]

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: Russia Withdrawal From Grain Deal Spikes Futures; Dairy Cow Slaughter Up; And U.S. Milk Production in […]

The governments of the United States and Canada yesterday concluded an oral hearing on the dispute between the two countries related to Canada’s unwillingness to administer dairy tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) in compliance with the country’s obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced today the promotion of four staff members.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is excited to announce that registration for Dairy Forum 2024 opens today. Now in its fifth decade, IDFA’s Dairy Forum is known around the world as the premier annual event for dairy industry leaders to exchange ideas, foster innovation, and cultivate meaningful connections.

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: Americans Beat the Heat With Ice Cream; Dairy Export Competition Heating Up; and Independence Day Spending […]

On behalf of U.S. dairy processors, retailers, and cooperatives working each day to provide nutritious and sustainable dairy foods to people around the world, the International Dairy Foods Association congratulates Ms. Xochitl Torres Small on her historic confirmation as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) submitted comments today on the protocols to examine the scientific questions that will be addressed by the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). In submitting comments, IDFA was responding to the 2025 DGAC’s request for feedback as it reviews the body of scientific evidence on nutrition and health necessary to formulate a credible and reliable Dietary Guidelines for Americans report at the end of 2024. IDFA believes that a credible, reliable DGAC report will put dairy foods at the center of healthy dietary patterns for people of all ages and backgrounds.

A nutrition incentive program that helps low-income families purchase healthy fluid milk products is expanding across the Oglala Sioux Nation and the state of South Dakota. The Add Milk! program is being launched by the Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) and select retailers to provide a dollar-for-dollar match for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, when they purchase low-fat or non-fat milk.

IDFA appreciates the Commissioner Califf’s routine updates and transparency as the FDA moves forward with the redesign of its human food programs. We applaud the agency for acknowledging that it has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be bold in the redesign of its human food program, which is crucial to establishing a foods program that can move at the speed of industry and the consumer while being most protective of public health.

On the brink of three years of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), IDFA reflects on the ups and downs of the United States’ only full and comprehensive preferential trade agreement to be finalized in a decade.

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: China Economy Remains Sluggish; Pressure on Producers; and Consumer Spending in a Minute! Quick Bites: Producers Under […]

A nutrition incentive program that helps low-income families purchase healthy fluid milk products is expanding across Alabama. The Add Milk! program is being launched by the Auburn University’s College of Human Sciences Hunger Solutions Institute (HSI) and select retailers to provide a dollar-for-dollar match for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, when they purchase low-fat or non-fat milk.

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced today that Roberta Wagner has been named senior vice president, regulatory and scientific affairs, succeeding a position held by Joseph Scimeca, Ph.D., who announced his retirement from IDFA earlier this year. Wagner comes to IDFA from Consumer Brands Association, formerly the Grocery Manufacturers Association, where she served as vice president of regulatory and technical affairs since 2019.

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: Dairy is Booming According to New Economic Impact Study; Labor and Debt Ceiling Deal Hit Consumer […]

This #JuneDairyMonth, IDFA is celebrating the U.S. dairy industry's continued growth, and we're amplifying how that growth translates into more jobs, higher wages, and increased economic impact for people and their communities. Over just the past two years, our industry added 60,000 new jobs, increased average wages by 11%, and increased its total impact on the U.S. economy by $41 billion, according to IDFA's latest economic impact report.

The U.S. dairy industry grew significantly over the past two years, adding nearly 60,000 new jobs, increasing average wages by 11%, and increasing its total impact on the U.S. economy by $41 billion, according to the latest economic impact report from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).

Chocolate ice cream, ice cream sandwiches top lists of favorite ice cream flavors and novelties, according to IDFA Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey WASHINGTON, May 25, 2023—The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) today announced the annual Capitol Hill Ice Cream Party will take place on the National Mall on June 21, 2023. The […]

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: More Americans Dining Out Despite High Prices; EU Food Inflation Looms Large; and The Job Market […]

About United Dairy: United Dairy Inc. is a family-owned independent milk processor that has been in operation since 1954. The company is headquartered in Martins Ferry, Ohio, and has three plants and six branches across five different states. United Dairy is committed to producing high-quality dairy products, including milk and ice cream sourced from local […]

The United States’ road, rail and shipping infrastructure and systems are not improving/modernizing quickly enough to support the U.S. dairy industry’s growth. While IDFA supported the passage of landmark legislation—the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA)—just last year, a lot of work remains to be done to support the transportation needs of our growing industry.

While dairy products are repeatedly recommended by the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) as a core component of a healthy eating pattern, the DGA also highlights that 90% of Americans do not consume enough milk and other nutritious dairy products.New legislation introduced today in the U.S. Senate seeks to address this significant gap by increasing access to nutritious dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt among participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, top officials with the U.S. Department of Agriculture remain fixated on banning chocolate milk from elementary and middle school cafeterias despite widespread opposition from parents, school meal professionals, and the federal government’s own Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) report. In April, 37 school milk processors representing more than 90% of the school milk volume in the United States jumped ahead of USDA’s proposed guidelines with the Healthy School Milk Commitment, a pledge to offer nutritious school milk options with no more than 10 grams of added sugar per 8 fluid ounce serving by the 2025-2026 school year.

Expanding the amount of nutritious dairy food options provided to children through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) would improve nutrition for children of all backgrounds, reduce waste in school meal programs, and increase participation in the federal child nutrition programs, according to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA).

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: Private Label Sales Rise as Inflation Looms Large; Weakening Dollar May Support Dairy Exports; and Truck […]

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: More Summer Travel Could Be Good for Dairy; Dairy Prices Expected To Remain High; and Cheese […]

This year’s Earth Day theme is investing in our planet. IDFA is pleased to participate and contribute to the awareness building that Earth Day is all about.

Banana Graham Ice Cream. Smooth Blended Cottage Cheese with Strawberry. Costa Rican Pineapple & Guava Greek Yogurt. These and other sensational, fruit-forward flavors and inclusions shined this week, taking home two-thirds of the awards at the International Dairy Foods Association's (IDFA) annual Innovative Ice Cream Flavor and Innovative Cultured Dairy Product competitions, co-sponsored by Dairy Foods magazine. The ice cream and cultured dairy product competitions took place during IDFA’s annual, co-located Ice Cream Technology Conference and Yogurt & Cultured Innovation Conference, which attracted a record crowd of more than 270 industry professionals to Austin, Texas.

Skyven works with manufacturing facilities to reduce onsite CO2 emissions and save them money. We help you decarbonize your facilities, profitably. We help identify, fund, design, build, and maintain attractive decarbonization solutions – with no CapEx cost to you. We install the latest decarbonization technology that makes the most sense for your facility, at our own costs.  We bill only for […]

Following more than four decades of advocacy from IDFA and formal objections filed by IDFA in July 2021, the FDA announced changes to the 2021 Yogurt Standard of Identity (SOI) final rule on December 14 that largely aligned with IDFA’s requested changes and objections. Today, FDA issued additional clarity on the final rule that, again, was in line with IDFA’s objections and guidance. IDFA remains generally pleased with FDA’s decisions and considers the final rule a win for consumers and yogurt makers.

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 Shows Signs of Improvement; Easter Spending Reaches Historical High; and Grain Roundup in a Minute! […]

On behalf of U.S. milk processors, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced today the establishment of the Healthy School Milk Commitment, a pledge by dairy companies to deliver milk’s 13 essential nutrients to America’s students while reducing calories and added sugars in flavored milk. Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, 37 school milk processors representing more than 90% of the school milk volume in the United States commit 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).

About Fiscalini Farmstead: Fiscalini Farmstead started as a dairy farm over 100 years ago. Today the fourth generation owns and operates the business, and continues a way of life that respects, preserves and honors the animals, the land, and resources. Our farm was established in 1914 by our great-grandfather who immigrated from Switzerland and settled […]

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: Consumers Choose Dairy Amid Financial Concerns; Economic Turmoil Leads to More Spending Anxiety; and Food Consumption […]

About Agrana Fruit: Partnering with our customers in the development of market leading fruit solutions is our passion. We are a leading supplier for the Dairy, Dairy Alternative, Ice Cream, Food Service and Beverage industries.   We offer world-class expertise that begins with high-value market insights and extends through the launch of innovative & tailor-made products. […]

On January 26, 2023, FDA published a notice regarding consumer research they planned to conduct regarding front-of-pack nutrition labeling schemes. IDFA staff worked with the IDFA Nutrition and Health Committee and the IDFA Standards and Labeling Committee to develop comments to FDA on the proposed research. The comments stressed the: Need for transparency from FDA. FDA can […]

Today, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) began accepting applications for the Dairy Industry Safety Recognition Awards. Now in its 20th year, the awards honor dairy processing facilities and trucking operations for outstanding worker safety performance and management. As with last year, IDFA will weigh equally an applicant’s essay and statistical data as health and safety experts recommend more emphasis on leading indicators and EHS management as essential components of a worker safety 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: Mexico Bans GMO Corn Imports; SNAP Benefits Decrease; and Global Milk Production in a Minute! Quick […]

The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, which governs the most widely referenced framework for GHG accounting and reporting, has initiated a process to review and update standards. As part of this review period, GHG Protocol announced an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback via survey and/or written proposals. On March 14, 2023, IDFA submitted public comment in response to this feedback request. This issue of GHG corporate accounting standards is one that IDFA has been focused on since last summer when we submitted comments to the UN High-Level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Commitments of Non-State Entities after consulting with the newly-established IDFA Sustainability Committee.

Joseph Scimeca, PhD, senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), recently announced his plans to retire in the summer of 2023 following nearly four decades in the food industry. IDFA has begun a national search for Dr. Scimeca’s successor to lead the trade association’s Regulatory & Scientific Affairs team.

WASHINGTON, March 9, 2023—A bipartisan group of 7 U.S. Senators and 28 U.S. Representatives yesterday sent letters to leaders at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging the Department to abandon a proposal to reduce the amount of milk and dairy provided to mothers and children enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, […]

By Mia Mulrennan, Psy.D., Chief People Officer, International Dairy Foods Association Mentoring circles have been one of the cornerstone touchpoints for Women in Dairy, a signature program of IDFA’s People Strategy.  Facilitated by a mentor, each circle has eight participants and runs once per month from April through December each year.  Each meeting focuses on […]

The IDFA Foundation completed its first fiscal year by delivering three grants totaling more than $63,000 to leading nonprofits working to reduce food insecurity and advance and empower minority students entering careers in food and agriculture. The IDFA Foundation seeks to make an important contribution to people and communities on behalf of the U.S. dairy industry by providing grants to support individuals and organizations that work to advance human health and nutrition, improve environmental stewardship and sustainability, and enhance the welfare of people working in food manufacturing. Established in 1958 as the Dairy Recognition and Education Foundation, today the IDFA Foundation is charting a new path for people and communities.

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: Strong Planting Season Expected, Retail Sales Rise Despite Inflation, and Fluid Milk Sales in a Minute! […]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2023— Joseph Scimeca, PhD, senior vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs for the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), issued the following statement today on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) draft guidance to industry on the “Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements: Guidance for Industry”: “It is […]

The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) is working to prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from making drastic cuts in benefits to the 6 million mothers and children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC. As part of ongoing efforts to preserve WIC dairy benefits, IDFA spoke with mother Brittany Oxley, a WIC participant from Charleston, W.Va., who also works as a medical assistant helping mothers and children in the WIC program. Brittany, a mother of two, said, “Most mothers that I work with are actually just in the program for the milk. They rely on this every month. … That would be hard to explain to a mother why they cut the milk. … I work with WIC moms and children every single day, and to do something like this makes no sense.” Brittany ends her comments with a plea to USDA to drop the proposed cuts to WIC dairy benefits.

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: Diesel Prices Slip, U.S. Dairy Herd on the Decline, and U.S. Dairy Trade in a Minute! […]