November 12, 2002
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Phone:(703) 243-6111
email:CGalen@nmpf.org
Tom Camerlo, Chairman of NMPF, noted that net dairy cash income in 2002 will be down 50 % from last year, causing enormous financial hardship in the dairy industry. He pointed out that NMPF was successful in supporting a variety of programs in the 2002 Farm Bill that will help producers, such as the extension of the price support program, a new national Johne's Disease control program, increased funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), extension of the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP), and the creation of the new Milk Income Loss Compensation program (MILC).
Camerlo said that NMPF also has waged a campaign on Capitol Hill to pass legislation imposing tariffs on imports of milk protein concentrate and casein, and that the campaign will continue as long as necessary. He said that NMPF has also been pushing the U.S. Customs Service to crack down on the mislabeling of dairy protein blends being imported into the U.S., and that National Milk has kept pressure on the Food and Drug Administration to enforce dairy labeling standards so that imitators such as soy processors can't use terms like milk, sour cream or butter. “We have to defend the dairy franchise we have worked so hard over the years to create, so that our competitors can't steal our terminology to use against us,” said Camerlo.
In his speech to the NMPF membership, Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF, announced a new round of Dairy Producer Conclave sessions for 2004. “We need to develop and reposition our policies to correspond to a changing industry, new consumer preferences and a global marketplace,” said Kozak. “We now have the opportunity to plan ahead and use the present time to plot a strategic course for the future. That's why I'm happy to announce that NMPF will sponsor a new round of Dairy Producer Conclaves in 2004.”
Kozak also unveiled NMPF's Environmental Best Management Practices manual, designed to help individual dairy operators make sound, science-based choices about how they manage the animal waste from their farms. He also noted that NMPF is issuing a new animal care handbook for farmers entitled “Caring for Dairy Animals.” This guide, a joint venture with the Dairy Quality Assurance Center, provides a comprehensive list of steps that producers can take to maximize the care and comfort of cows throughout their lives, from calving to culling. “By providing farmers with this manual, we are helping ensure that you will not be denied access to certain markets because of any questions regarding your on-farm animal handling,” said Kozak.
Kozak also discussed NMPF's new grass roots political communication program, Dairy G.R.E.A.T. (Grass Roots Education and Action Team). “By working with our member coops, and by giving you resources on the WWW.NMPF.ORG website, we are empowering farmers to do a better job of interacting with their congressmen and senators. We need your involvement in the political process to continue achieving other victories.”