In this week's news as we kick off 2025:
- FDA to test raw cow’s milk cheese nationwide for HPAI
- January FSA interest rates continue to rise
- USDA provides more than $8 million in second round of payments to help organic dairy producers
- Saputo COO steps down after three months
FDA to test raw cow’s milk cheese nationwide for HPAI
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun a domestic sampling assignment to collect and test aged raw cow’s milk cheese for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.
In the U.S., cheese allowed to be made from raw (unpasteurized) milk must be aged for a minimum of 60 days to mitigate the risk from any pathogens, if present.
The FDA plans to collect 300 samples of raw cow’s milk cheese, aged for at least 60 days, from warehouses and distribution hubs throughout the U.S. The sampling program will take place from the end of December through the end of March.
The objectives of the assignment are to determine whether viable H5N1 virus is present in the cheese and to take follow-up action(s) as needed to protect consumers.
January FSA interest rates continue to rise
The announced interest rates on loans through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) rose for the second consecutive month. As we begin January 2025, interest rates for operating and ownership loans (compared to December) are as follows:
- Farm operating loans (direct): 5.125%, up from 4.75%
- Farm ownership loans (direct): 5.625%, up from 5.25%
- Farm ownership loans (direct, joint financing): 3.625%, up from 3.25%
- Farm ownership loans (down payment): 1.625%, up from 1.5%
- Emergency loan (amount of actual loss): 3.75%, unchanged
The FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders. For more information, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center.
USDA provides more than $8 million in second round of payments to help organic dairy producers
The USDA announced a second round of payments for dairy producers through the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) 2024, providing an additional $8.7 million to help dairy producers mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry.
The USDA’s FSA has already paid out $23 million in the first round of payments for eligible producers, bringing total ODMAP 2024 payments to more than $31 million.
“This funding gives organic dairy producers critical support as they continue to weather a combination of challenges outside of their control,” said Blong Xiong, FSA state executive director in California. “The payments are intended to help producers stay in operation until markets return to more favorable conditions.”
The FSA accepted ODMAP 2024 applications from Sept. 30 to Dec. 13. ODMAP 2024 provides a one-time cost-share payment based on marketing costs on pounds of organic milk marketed in the 2023 calendar year or estimated 2024 marketing costs for organic dairy operations that have increased milk production.
Saputo COO steps down after three months
Saputo Inc. announced that Frank Guido will step down from his role as chief operating officer (COO) for personal reasons.
Carl Colizza, president and CEO, will assume the duties of COO on an interim basis in addition to his current responsibilities.
Guido was appointed to the role of COO in September. He has a 25-year track record in the consumer-packaged goods industry and had held senior management positions in operations, supply chain, continuous improvement and finance at several public companies. Prior to his appointment as COO, Guido served as president and COO, Dairy Division (USA) at Saputo.
