NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD-TV) — Recent trade agreements are opening new dairy access in Southeast Asia, and industry groups want the administration to keep pushing. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) says markets like Malaysia and Cambodia already buy significant volumes of U.S. dairy and remain places where tariffs disadvantage American products, and that recent wins help farmers focus on production rather than trade barriers.
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the largest dairy farmer organization in the U.S., is conducting a series of discussions on policy issues during the meeting. These discussions cover key industry concerns, including the need to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act and to develop sustainable labor solutions for American dairy farmers.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins touted the Trump administration’s milk action plan to support American dairy farmers today at NMPF’s annual meeting.
“I want to be very clear. We will never stop fighting for those of you in the dairy industry and across rural America. We have reached that golden age for our producers,” said Rollins, a Texas native who keynoted the Joint Annual Meeting hosted by NMPF, the United Dairy Board, and the United Dairy Industry Association. “Dairy farmers have delivered for America for 250 years, and now it’s time for us to deliver for you.”
Rollins addressed approximately 750 farmers, cooperative leaders, and industry professionals who had gathered to discuss various topics, including the economic outlook and labor challenges in the dairy sector.
In her remarks, Rollins outlined the USDA’s dairy priorities, detailing the administration’s four-point approach to support the industry, which includes:
- Incentivizing dairy consumption through changes to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are expected to be released in December or early January.
- Working to drive down input costs;
- Facilitating investments in American milk processing; and
- Expanding markets to help milk producers prosper.
Rollins explained that the effort will be coordinated with the departments of Labor and Homeland Security, acknowledging that more extensive changes will necessitate congressional action. emphasizing the significance of farm-labor issues and committed to advocating for federal changes to relevant rules and regulations, she said, “We are acutely aware of the unique labor needs of the dairy industry.”
