Digest highlights
- NMPF seeks faster FDA approval of climate-friendly feed additives
- Election results and the 2023 Farm Bill
- GDT index improves
- NMPF comments on livestock indemnity proposal
NMPF seeks faster FDA approval of climate-friendly feed additives
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) called on the FDA to modernize its regulations allowing for faster approval of animal-feed additives that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In comments submitted to FDA, Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s chief science officer, highlighted the need for urgent action to enhance dairy’s role as a climate solution.
“Innovative and voluntary solutions are needed to reduce GHG emissions, including methane,” Jonker said. “Enteric emissions directly from cows currently account for roughly one-third of all GHG emissions from dairy farms and present an important area of opportunity for methane reductions. Feed composition changes can directly or indirectly reduce enteric emissions resulting from livestock.”
While animal-feed additives are a promising path toward a net zero future for dairy, the FDA processes slow the pace of their approval compared with competitors such as the European Union. By streamlining bureaucracy and allowing feed additives to be treated as foods rather than as drugs, the U.S. can maintain and advance its global leadership in sustainability, Jonker wrote.
Election results and the 2023 Farm Bill
Votes are still being counted a week after the election, with the potential of impacting the process, if not the provisions of the 2023 Farm Bill.
It appears Democrats will maintain a 50-49 edge in the U.S. Senate, with a runoff vote to be held in Georgia on Dec. 6. With Vice President Kamala Harris also serving as the president of the Senate, Democrats will also serve as chairs of committees with oversight on agricultural issues.
In the House at last count, Republicans had clinched between 215-217 seats, inching toward the 218 needed for a majority, with a number of races still to be decided.
Paul Bleiberg, NMPF senior vice president for government relations, and Alan Bjerga, NMPF senior vice president of communications, discussed the election results, the balance of power, committee leadership and the impact on dairy policy priorities in a Dairy Defined podcast.
For example, if Republicans do become the majority in the House, there will be flip in the leadership of the House Ag Committee. U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pennsylvania) would likely become the chair and Rep. David Scott (D-Georgia) would likely become the ranking member. Republicans would gain some seats and be in the driver’s seat in the House for the farm bill process to play out next year. Democrats would lose some seats. Some current members might move off the ag committee to other committees.
The same holds true for House committees with oversight on appropriations, immigration and environmental issues.
Regardless of the balance of power, Bleiberg said NMPF’s basic policy priorities would remain the same. Listen to the podcast or find the transcript here.
GDT index improves
The latest Global Dairy Trade (GDT) auction saw the overall price index reverse course, posting the first increase since September. While the overall index was up 2.4%, price movement in individual product categories was mixed in the auction held Nov. 15:
- Skim milk powder was up 3.1% to $3,057 per metric ton (MT, or about 2,205 pounds).
- Whole milk powder was up 3.1% to $3,397 per MT.
- Anhydrous milkfat was up 2.7% to $5,711 per MT.
- Butter was down 0.8% to $4,829 per MT.
- Cheddar cheese was down 1.3% to $4,746 per MT.
The GDT platform offers dairy products from six global companies: Fonterra (New Zealand), Dairy America (U.S.), Amul (India), Arla (Denmark), Arla Foods Ingredients (Denmark) and Polish Dairy (Poland). The next GDT auction is Dec. 6.
NMPF comments on livestock indemnity proposal
NMPF submitted comments on a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposal affecting indemnity payments for producers forced to destroy livestock due to disease. Published last September, USDA-APHIS-2021-0010 aims to standardize and provide greater consistency to the livestock indemnification process. The public comment period on the proposal closed in early November.
The Animal Health Protection Act gives the USDA authority to hold, seize, quarantine, treat, destroy, dispose of or take other remedial action as needed to prevent the introduction and spread of livestock pests and diseases within the U.S. It also directs the USDA to compensate the owner for any animal required to be destroyed.
Structural changes under the proposal include use of an annual indemnity value table to standardize the indemnification process and allowances for appraisal when an indemnity value cannot be calculated using the tables, or when a producer elects to appeal the indemnity value based on extraordinary circumstances.
In his comments, Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s chief science officer and vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, expressed general support for the proposal covering foreign, emerging and domestic diseases, including bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, foot-and-mouth disease and other diseases and pests affecting dairy cattle.
Jonker asked USDA-APHIS to update the process for assessing dairy animal values through creation of a stakeholder working group. He said the approach does not account for potential differences in value due to breed, productivity, genetics (registered or commercial), marketing or religious programs (such as organic, grass-fed, kosher or halal).
Based on the USDA “Indemnity values for 2022: Commercial table,” current values are: Non-adult dairy cattle, under 250 pounds ($60); steers and heifers 400-799 pounds ($681); steers and heifers greater than 800 pounds raised for beef ($1,113); heifer and cows ($1,363); and bulls ($1,477).
NMPF supported giving dairy farmers a right to an appraisal and opposed a cap on indemnity values paid by USDA-APHIS.
Jonker also supported the addition of a section that details other costs incurred by owners beyond indemnity for destruction of animals. This section should set requirements such as product sales loss (milk unavailable for commercial sale), the cost of disposition of indemnified animals, feed and materials loss/destruction, facility and environmental remediation, and other expenses incurred due to diseases covered under the program.
NMPF supported a requirement for the use of official 840 RFID tags for dairy cattle when determining appropriate animal identification.
The USDA-APHIS will now review comments before formally developing a proposed rule.
