Digest Highlights: • Ag groups push for House action on labor bill • Michigan dairy community hosts Great Dairy Adventure • DFA closing plant at Hughson, California • Wisconsin farmers to travel to New York seeking dairy solutions • North Dakota offers cost-share assistance for dairy improvements • Dairy farmers share stories at FUTP 60 Student Ambassador Summit • Hilmar Cheese Company unveils dairy mural
Ag groups push for House action on labor bill
More than 200 agriculture groups have thrown their support behind the bipartisan AG and Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 6417), urging House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) to bring the proposal to the floor before the members of the House leave Washington, D.C., on Friday, July 27, for an August recess.
According to agricultural leaders, the bill, introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia), replaces an outdated and broken H-2A agricultural guestworker program with a new, workable agricultural guestworker program, known as the H-2C program, to ensure America’s farmers and ranchers have access to a reliable workforce. The H-2C program is available to both seasonal and year-round agricultural employers; provides a generous visa allocation to ensure labor needs are met; provides much needed flexibility to minimize disruptions in farm operations; eliminates regulatory burdens; and contains effective accountability and enforcement provisions. [Bill summary] [Bill text]
Michigan dairy community hosts Great Dairy Adventure
More than 3,700 people gathered to experience the Michigan dairy industry’s Great Dairy Adventure.
“For nearly 20 years, the entire dairy community has worked together to bring the Great Dairy Adventure to mid-Michigan, each year adding new components and expanding on favorite activities,” said Carla McLachlan, program/events manager, department of animal science, Michigan State University. Recent additions included “fun runs,” dairy crafts and "Farming in Action" – a 1/64th scale display depicting a working dairy farm.
The event was held July 18 at the Michigan State University Pavilion in East Lansing, Michigan. Attendees were able to pet calves, milk a cow, learn that cows eat a diet balanced by dairy nutritionists, enjoy dairy treats and learn about the steps milk takes on its journey from cow to grocery store to the family table. Through the national dairy campaign, Undeniably Dairy, visitors also colored in a 10-foot mural that celebrates our devotion to dairy from the farm to those who enjoy dairy foods.
Michigan dairy farmers and dairy community members who hosted the event shared details of how they care for cows, what they love about dairy farming and answered questions about dairy farms and milk.
“The dairy community is proud of the dairy foods we produce, and the Great Dairy Adventure provides an opportunity to share our dairy story and to answer questions,” said Jolene Griffin, director of industry relations at the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
DFA closing plant at Hughson, California
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) plans to idle its Hughson, California, manufacturing plant on Sept. 14, 2018. The plant produces condensed milk, cream and dry milk powder. DFA has owned the facility, built in 1911, since 1998, according to Gary Stueve, DFA’s western area chief operating officer.
Wisconsin farmers to travel to New York seeking dairy solutions
A delegation of Wisconsin farmers will travel to Albany, New York, for a meeting to address ways the struggling dairy industry can increase farm milk prices and slow the trend of dairy farm loss. Wisconsin Farmers Union is arranging transportation for farmers interested in attending the Aug. 13 meeting, which is being organized by Agri-Mark and will include dairy farmers, industry leaders, experts, policy makers and media.
Dairy farmers are struggling with their fourth consecutive year of milk prices being below the cost of production. In the first half of 2018, Wisconsin lost 338 dairy herds, according to records kept by the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
“To effect the kind of change it’s going to take to turn this dairy crisis around, we’re going to need farmers and organizations from across the country to come together and work on solutions,” said Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden, who plans to present details of the organization’s “Dairy Together” movement.
The Agri-Mark event is being billed as “Increasing Farm Milk Prices & Net Farm Income: The Impact of Farm Milk Production Decisions.” The event will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 13, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center.
The Wisconsin group will depart from Madison in the early morning hours on Sunday, Aug. 12 and will pick up farmers in other states en route to the meeting. The group will return on Tuesday, Aug. 14. Farmers or others interested in being on the bus should email Bobbi Wilson or phone (608) 234-3741.
North Dakota offers cost-share assistance for dairy improvements
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring announced the North Dakota Dairy Improvement Assistance Program, which will provide cost-share assistance to North Dakota dairy operations. The program will help dairy operations invest in necessary updates and improvements to enhance compliance with the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance.
Some of the eligible improvements include:
• New water wells
• Rural water system connections
• Construction materials for the milk house/parlor
• Repairing pitted or cracked floors
Applicants may receive up to 75 percent cost share, with a maximum of $3,000, of the eligible costs of the projects. For producers facing extraordinary situations, further consideration may be given for additional funding. Letters and applications were sent to all current North Dakota dairy operations earlier this week.
Additional information is available by contacting the North Dakota Department of Agriculture at (701) 328-2231 or (800) 242-7535.
Dairy farmers share stories at FUTP 60 Student Ambassador Summit
The 2018 Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) Student Ambassador Summit was held July 16-19 in Atlanta, Georgia.
FUTP 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League (NFL), in collaboration with the USDA, to help encourage youths to lead healthier lives.
This year’s summit brought together approximately 215 students and 92 educators from 46 states to exchange ideas and participate in workshops and activities. The event provides students and educators with leadership and communications training opportunities to enhance their in-school nutrition and physical activity program engagement in the upcoming school year. Additionally, customized activities deepen participants’ knowledge of agriculture, specifically dairy farming and where their food comes from.
Dairy farmers Marilyn Hershey of Pennsylvania, Michelle Schilter of Washington and Brad Scott of California, plus former NFL player and current farmer Jason Brown, participated in a panel discussion moderated by FUTP 60 students on the topic of “Nourishing Communities: The Role of Farmers In Feeding The World.”
They provided their perspectives and insights on the important role farmers play in communities and in feeding the planet. Hershey, Schilter, Scott and Brown described their farms, their motivations and misperceptions about farmers and/or farming.
The full panel discussion can be heard here.
Hilmar Cheese Company unveils dairy mural
Hilmar Helping Hands received thousands of food items as part of a “Scoop it Forward” event, July 13, to celebrate the official unveiling of a hand-painted dairy mural at the Hilmar Cheese Company Visitor Center in Hilmar, California.
Hilmar Cheese Company owners, employees, local officials and the community brought nonperishable food items to donate in exchange for a scoop of ice cream.
The mural is part of a national effort to celebrate the contribution of dairy farms and farm families to local communities. The Hilmar Cheese Company Visitor Center was selected by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy as one of seven locations across the nation to feature a custom mural as part of the “Undeniably Dairy” campaign. Undeniably Dairy is an industry-wide, national campaign that aims to increase consumer trust in the practices, principles and people behind the dairy foods people know and love.
Standing 32 feet tall by 60 feet wide, the mural is a creation of muralist Ed Trask of Richmond, Virginia. It depicts Hilmar’s founding principles of farmers, family, community and faith – and its passion for Jersey cows. It also depicts a child's journey from experiencing the visitor center as a youth and showing cows to discovering her devotion to dairy and pursuing a career in dairy innovation and research. 
PHOTO 1: Michigan dairy farmers and dairy community members shared details of how they care for cows, what they love about dairy farming and answered questions about dairy farms and milk during the Great Dairy Adventure, July 18. Photo courtesy United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
PHOTO 2: Topping their educational experience, youngsters of all ages enjoyed dairy treats at the Great Dairy Adventure. Photo courtesy United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
PHOTO 3: A fun run led by Michigan State University mascot “Sparty” highlighted the importance of physical activity during the Great Dairy Adventure. Photo courtesy United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
PHOTO 4: A Fuel Up to Play 60 student ambassador (left) and California dairy farmer Brad Scott (right) listen as former NFL player Jason Brown, who now is a farmer, talks to students about his farm during the Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassador Summit. Photo courtesy of Dairy Management Inc.
PHOTO 5: The Hilmar Cheese Company mural depicts the company’s founding principles of farmers, family, community and faith – and its passion for Jersey cows. It also depicts a child's journey from experiencing the visitor center as a youth and showing cows to discovering her devotion to dairy and pursuing a career in dairy innovation and research. Photo courtesy of Hilmar Cheese Company Inc.
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