USDA moved another step in the possible creation of a California federal milk marketing order. House members are asking for answers from EPA regarding funding used by environmental activists. Proposed legislation would create USDA funding for small cheesemakers. This and other U.S. dairy policy news can be found here.
Potential California FMMO proposal moves another step
The process to consider creation of a federal milk marketing order (FMMO) for California moves on.
USDA conducted a 40-day public hearing on multiple proposals to consider a California FMMO last fall, posting all corrected transcripts and exhibits to a specially designated website in early January. USDA estimated about 8,000 pages of transcripts, not including exhibits, were entered into the hearing record.
In the next step in the procedure, USDA announced all post-hearing briefs were posted on April 19. Reply briefs are due by May 16.
After reply briefs are submitted, USDA will develop and issue a “recommended decision” on whether to develop a California FMMO followed by another public comment period. After that period, USDA will issue a “final decision.”
If USDA recommends a California FMMO, dairy farmers potentially covered by the order will vote on whether to adopt it. A “yes” vote by more than two-thirds of the dairy farmers, or dairy farmers representing two-thirds of the milk produced in the order, is needed to approve it.
View all documents on USDA’s California federal milk order rulemaking website.
House members seek EPA answers
U.S. House members joined the chorus questioning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) role in an environmental advocacy campaign in Washington state.
A bipartisan letter signed by 145 House members was sent to EPA administrator Gina McCarthy requesting information related to the agency’s oversight of a $3 million cooperative agreement with the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
That organization allegedly used an EPA grant to partner with environmental activist groups to fund “What’s Upstream,” a campaign designed to create public support for increased environmental regulation of agriculture.
Billboards and bus placards stated, “Unregulated agriculture is putting our waterways at risk.” A website link urged the public to send a pre-written email to state lawmakers encouraging increased regulation.
Previously, House Ag Committee Chair K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) requested documents and information related to EPA’s “Region 10 Puget Sound Action Agenda” dating back to January 2009.
IDFA, others call for funding USDA positions in Cuba
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) joined more than 60 other food organizations and companies in calling for lifting the trade embargo with Cuba and approving funding for the USDA to add staff positions “on the ground” in Cuba.
The organizations said housing USDA staff members within the U.S. Embassy in Havana would make the transition process run more efficiently, help U.S. companies regain a prominent export role in Cuba and advance U.S. agricultural interests.
The organizations made the request in a joint letter to the leaders of the Senate and House subcommittees that represent agricultural interests on the Appropriations Committees. Cuba imports up to 80 percent of its food resources according to the letter. With increases of tourism from the U.S., food demand is also expected to increase.
Bill supports small cheesemakers, dairy farmers
U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced legislation to increase federal support and resources for small cheese producers.
Murphy’s “Local Cheese Promotion and Dairy Support Act” would create a $5 million grant program to help small cheese producers grow their businesses. Under the program, preference would be given to cheese producers who produce their own raw material (primarily milk) or purchase raw material from farms within their state.
The legislation will also support regional and national cheese-making resource centers where experienced cheesemakers, financers and other experts will be available to help beginning cheesemakers.
Grants could be used to help purchase equipment, renovate or repair production facilities, develop business plans, market products and pay for financial literacy or food safety trainings. The bill will also set aside 10 percent of funding to allow land grant universities, experienced producers and nonprofit organizations to establish cheese-making resource centers and to provide assistance to new producers.
Film highlights milk labels, food waste
The Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, in partnership with Racing Horse Productions, released a short film, EXPIRED? Food Waste in America. The film explores how the variety of “sell-by” labels on food products contributes to the annual waste of 160 billion pounds of food in America.
The film profiles the effects of a Montana state law requiring all milk to be labeled with a sell-by date no later than 12 days after pasteurization. After the sell-by date passes, the milk may not be sold or donated. As a result of the law, thousands of gallons of milk have been thrown away according to Harvard Law Today.
Vilsack: TPP creates opportunities in Vietnam
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled to Vietnam recently to meet with his counterparts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The topic: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
Vietnam remains one of the fastest-growing markets for U.S. food and agricultural products, and it now ranks as the 11th-largest U.S. agricultural export market.
Vietnam is a member of the ASEAN Free Trade Zone and has concluded free trade agreements with a number of other countries, including key U.S. competitors such as Australia, Chile, Korea and New Zealand.
In addition to being part of the TPP, Vietnam is in the process of negotiating agreements with China, the European Union, Hong Kong and Israel. In these negotiations, Vietnam has agreed to tariff reductions on many agricultural products potentially putting U.S. exporters at a disadvantage.
In 2015, the United States exported $168 million in dairy products to Vietnam, more than three times the value a decade ago. All of Vietnam's tariffs on dairy products, currently as high as 20 percent, will be eliminated within five years under TPP. Tariffs on cheese, milk powder and whey will be eliminated immediately. PD
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Dave Natzke
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