Lawmakers are revisiting the issue of whole milk in schools

Ag lawmakers have been fighting for years to keep whole milk in school cafeterias, and now, they are getting ready to hear all sides of the argument.

For more than a decade, Congress has prevented U.S. public schools from serving whole milk to students. However, parents, doctors, and the dairy community are now pushing back, and Congress says it will listen.

Tomorrow morning, Senate Ag Committee leadership will hold a hearing on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which is a bill that has been around in different versions over the years, and would allow schools in the national school lunch program to serve reduced or low fat milk, including flavored varieties. Several groups will testify including USDA, as well as a number of school district leaders from around the country.

Related Stories
Understanding how these tax provisions interact will be key for farmers planning long-term equipment purchases or transfers within the family.
The government shutdown has touched nearly every sector of the ag industry since it began, and now impacts are spilling over into dairy.
With China halting U.S. soybean purchases and talks tied to broader strategic issues, growers face renewed export uncertainty.
Talks highlight the widening role of agriculture in U.S.–India trade policy, though neither side appears ready for major concessions before tariff issues and oil imports are resolved.
Soybean farmer and Arkansas Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge highlights why the U.S. trade standoff with China is especially critical for Arkansas producers.
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew discusses the urgent need for aid as farm families face mounting input costs and long-term market uncertainty.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

National Land Realty’s Jeramy Stephens shares his outlook on farmland market trends, which remain under close watch as new federal assistance programs roll out — with experts analyzing potential impacts on land values, buying, and stability.
Michelle Perez shares more about the American Farmland Trust’s resource to help farmers and producers plan soil health improvements.
Farm CPA Paul Neiffer outlines the key difference between previous ECAP payments and the Farm Bridge Assistance Program.
Jeff Johnston with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange explains the growing role of Rural America in supporting the nation’s digital infrastructure.
FFA Central Region Vice President Claire Woeppel joins FFA Today to share her story and excitement to connect with FFA members nationwide.
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson reacts to the U.S. House’s passage of the SPEED Act, which aims to streamline federal permitting for energy and infrastructure projects, and discusses its potential impact on rural communities.