Every successful dairy farmer is familiar with the concept of Return on Investment (ROI), which is central to making smart business decisions. The most tangible ROI measure is financial – but what generates healthy returns is much more complex than that, ranging from smart spending choices to sweat equity to the simple determination to get things done.
One clear ROI for our members early this year was the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to allocate an additional $100 million in payments under the Pandemic Market Volatility Assistance Program to farmers for production up to 9 million pounds of milk during the six-month stretch of the COVID-19 pandemic when price imbalances in milk markets were at their worst. While still not everything we sought (and are still seeking), that $100 million – on top of the $250 million already gained for the first 5 million pounds of milk — happened because we didn’t give up fighting for our members when a flaw in Class I pricing became apparent.
Along with rectifying that imbalance, this year we’re tackling the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system itself, modernizing it in ways that will hold benefits for dairy farmers of all sizes, in all regions, among all business models. We’re also seeking regulatory clarity on everything from water rules to plant-based beverages. We do all this with a staff that’s lean, but mighty – and a membership that’s forward-thinking, influential, and willing to have the tough conversations necessary to forge the consensus this industry needs.
This year’s Activities and Accomplishments highlights our work across the federal policy spectrum. It also highlights how decisions in Washington connect with choices made from U.S. dairy farms to global milk markets, through our work with the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and other partners. We gain policy wins – and stave off negative outcomes for our members – because you invest in us. And, in keeping with that trust, we invest our time, our passion, our skills and our energy to get you results. Thank you for that investment. I hope you benefit from reading about some of the returns it generated in 2022, and how those accomplishments are setting the stage for dairy farmers to gain greater benefits in the years ahead.
To read the report, click here.
