Here is a look at news pertaining to dairy operations this week:
- Groups intend to sue EPA for failure to establish emission factors for livestock operations
- Workshop to highlight proposed changes to Federal Milk Marketing Orders
- Grande Cheese partners with Farmers for Sustainable Food to launch on-farm sustainability program
- Michigan Milk Producers Association appoints new chief financial officer
Groups intend to sue EPA for failure to establish emission factors for livestock operations
Earlier this summer, several environmental groups sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stating their notice of intent to sue for an unreasonable delay in establishing emission factors for animal feeding operations (AFOs) under the Clean Air Act.
The environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Center for Food Safety, Environmental Integrity Project, Food & Water Watch and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, claim that in the more than 30 years since the passage of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, the EPA has failed to establish methods for estimating the quantity of emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) from AFOs.
The groups assert that the Farm Emission Model the EPA currently uses is inadequate and efforts to establish VOC emission factors for certain AFOs through the 2005 Air Compliance Agreement and associated National Air Emissions Monitoring Study (NAEMS) have repeatedly stalled while also suffer from critical study design and data flaws.
The reporting requirements for livestock operations pertaining to animal waste air emissions were last granted an exemption in 2019. However, after another lawsuit filed by environmental groups opposed that exemption, the EPA reopened consideration of the rule in 2023 and public comments were sought earlier this year.
Now, if the EPA fails to prepare emission factors for VOC and NOx by the end of the year, these environmental groups intend to file a lawsuit in federal district court against the EPA.
Workshop to highlight proposed changes to Federal Milk Marketing Orders
In light of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s recent proposal announcing the largest changes in over two decades to U.S. milk-pricing regulations, a workshop has been scheduled to inform producers, processors and other industry stakeholders about the proposed amendments to all 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs).
Scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 18, the event will be available in three formats: in-person, livestreamed and recorded. Featured discussion topics will include a detailed analysis of proposed changes, the rationale behind the changes, regional impacts, industry implications, future projections, the timeline for the process and more.
The workshop is a collaborative effort by the Professional Dairy Producers (PDP), Renk Agribusiness Institute, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Dairy Markets and Policy, Cornell University and University of Wisconsin Extension.
Workshop speakers represent a diversity of tenured backgrounds and experiences specific to FMMOs. Presenters include:
- Mike Brown, chief economist for International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA)
- Calvin Covington, former CEO of Southeast Milk Inc., author of numerous milk marketing articles and several-time testifier at FMMO hearings
- Eric Erba, vice president and senior economist for Dairy Farmers of America Inc. (DFA)
- Charles Nicholson, associate professor in the departments of animal and dairy sciences and agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Leonard Polzin, dairy markets and policy outreach specialist at the University of Wisconsin Extension
- Mark Stephenson, retired University of Wisconsin – Madison director of dairy policy analysis
- John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA)
- Geoffrey Vanden Heuvel, director of California’s regulatory and economic affairs for Milk Producers Council
- Chris Wolf, E.V. Baker professor of agricultural economics at Cornell University
The in-person session will take place at the Sheraton Madison Hotel, 706 John Nolen Dr., Madison, Wisconsin, and will include lunch and opportunities to talk with presenters. As mentioned, the program will be livestreamed for virtual access and a recording will also be made available. The registration fee of $59 applies to all three formats. To learn more and to register, visit the PDP website or contact PDP at (800) 947-7379.
Grande Cheese partners with Farmers for Sustainable Food to launch on-farm sustainability program
Grande Cheese Company, a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of fine Italian cheeses and specialty whey and lactose products, announced a new partnership with the Farmers for Sustainable Food Climate-Smart Program. Collaborating with these leading agricultural entities brings a farmer-led approach to environmental sustainability that generates industry data, information and on-farm best practice recommendations.
The FSF Climate-Smart Program was made possible by the USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities award. It targets initiatives committed to data-driven conservation practices and outcomes, with the purpose of sharing best practices across the farming industry and communicating collective impact to consumers. The Grande project is the first processor-driven initiative incorporated into the FSF Climate-Smart Program.
“Adding a processor-led project into the FSF program allows us to further collaborate within the full dairy supply chain,” said Tim Trotter, FSF CEO. “The Grande project, like all the projects built in the program, is designed to address concerns or challenges unique to the project members.”
Grande Producer Partners (dairy farms) are encouraged to participate in the program, which comes at no cost to them – and depending on their level of participation, they receive a corresponding stipend. Farmers can receive up to $9,000 annually for program participation.
The project is expected to run for the duration of the five-year program and will generate annual outcomes for the participating farmers after each cropping year.
Michigan Milk Producers Association appoints new chief financial officer
The Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) announced the appointment of Aaron Anticic as its new chief financial officer (CFO). In his new role, Anticic will be responsible for managing and overseeing all financial activities of MMPA, ensuring the organization’s long-term financial stability and supporting its strategic vision.
Anticic brings a wealth of experience to MMPA, having spent over 13 years at Mastronardi Produce, one of the largest produce companies in the world. Starting his tenure at Mastronardi as a financial analyst, Anticic advanced to the position of VP of finance, most recently leading the finance team at the Mastronardi BerryWorld Americas joint venture. During his tenure with Mastronardi Produce, Anticic built and led various accounting and finance teams, which played a central role in the development of strategy and in managerial decision making throughout the organization.
In addition to his CFO role with MMPA, Anticic has been appointed as an officer of the MMPA board of directors.
