Two leading dairy groups said yesterday they will work with the Trump administration to modernize the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to make sure it safeguards open trade with Mexico and confronts increasingly protectionist dairy policies by Canada.

U.S. dairies owners overwhelmingly prefer to be called “farmers” as opposed to “producers.” That’s according to recent online and phone surveys conducted by Progressive Dairyman. Readers said they prefer the term farmer as a description of their work four to one.

Milk has long been touted for its many nutritional benefits. This is why the farmer-founded National Dairy Council and many leading health organizations endorse its role in the diet.

There was a time in our industry when whey was more waste product than valuable byproduct. The whey that remained from cheese making was either discarded or spread on farmers’ fields years ago.

Should everyone know a dairy farmer? Yes, I believe they should. But you might be thinking, “Why would anyone want to know a dairy farmer?”

The theme of the first Indiana Dairy Forum was “Your Family, Your Farm, Our Commitment.” Brownfield’s Dave Russell served as emcee, and Dr. Tom Furhmann of Dairyworks provided leadership tools for management toolboxes both days of the forum with his “Who Controls our Future” and “Management Rules to Live By” presentations.

The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program, in collaboration with Colorado State University, is conducting a dairy farmer survey to learn more about perceptions of the FARM Program and how it can continue to improve the resources it offers producers.

Editor's note: The CEO Corner contains editors' compilations of business news from top publications, which they have tailored for the dairy industry. My local post office in Jerome, Idaho, recently asked me if I wanted to sign up for Informed Delivery, a free new offering from the USPS.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue conducted a series of meetings with Canadian officials on June 5. Among other issues, Perdue raised the topic of U.S.-produced ultra-filtered milk and Canadian dairy ingredient pricing policy that has been a point of disagreement between the two countries.

June Dairy Month activities are well underway, but dairy producers will have to wait a little longer to celebrate a milk price improvement. Students are headed for summer vacation, so demand for fluid milk will be tested. With heat stress imminent, milk production will trend downward.