Dairy Policy & Economics
The U.S. dairy industry is an important contributor to the nation's economic well being and to the vitality of rural America. Milk is produced on farms in every one of the 50 states with all but five being home to 100 or more dairy farms. Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of jobs are created by the dairy industry on farms, in processing plants, through marketing and transportation, in retail stores and in companies that supply inputs to the dairy industry.
Dairy policy in the United States includes both federal and state programs. The two major federal dairy programs are the Federal Milk Marketing Orders system, with 10 market areas, and the milk price support program. Government programs designed to assist international trade, such as the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP), also affect the dairy industry.
Current federal dairy policies and subsidy programs date back to the Great Depression and have not kept pace with the dynamic realities of today's marketplace. The outdated and complicated web of dairy support programs are regionally divisive and discourage innovation. To ensure the United States has a healthy and vibrant dairy industry that is able to meet the changing demands of the marketplace, IDFA continues to call for dairy policy reform.
Articles
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August 27, 2010
Market Update: Overall Dairy Demand Strong, but Fluid Milk Sales Sag -
August 27, 2010
USDA Issues Final 'Dairy 7' Purchasing Specs for Dairy Products -
August 27, 2010
Arcuri to Sponsor Bill to Stabilize Dairy Prices -
August 20, 2010
State Seeks to Help Dairy Farmers -
August 17, 2010
Farmers Offer Their Thoughts on the 2012 Farm Bill -
August 16, 2010
Farmers: Consensus on Fair Dairy Pricing Badly Needed -
August 12, 2010
Milk Producers Propose Massive Overhaul of U.S. Dairy Policy -
August 6, 2010
Senate Approves Price Reporting Bill, Pushes Trade Agenda -
July 30, 2010
House Agriculture Committee Passes Provision to Require Electronic Dairy Product Price Reporting -
July 30, 2010
Dairy Market Update: Milk Supply and Demand Up in 2010 -
July 30, 2010
"Coffee With IDFA Features Connie Tipton on Dairy Policy Reforms -
July 29, 2010
Job Subsidies Also Provide Help to Private Sector -
July 23, 2010
IDFA Vice President Bob Yonkers Honored by Peers for Leadership in Agriculture Economics -
July 23, 2010
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves 2011 Agriculture Spending Bill -
July 22, 2010
Food for Thought on Agricultural Stocks -
July 22, 2010
Our View: When this Product Takes a Licking, That's Good -
July 21, 2010
Economic Scene: Overcome by Heat and Inertia -
July 12, 2010
Milk Money: The Complexities of Keeping Dairy Farms Alive -
July 9, 2010
Peterson Starts Early on Farm Bill -
July 7, 2010
U.S. Dairies Will Cull 34,442 Cows to Lift Milk Price After Herds Rebound -
July 1, 2010
Column: Milk Prices and the Future of Dairy Farms Are Enduring Questions -
July 1, 2010
Choose Growth, Not Supply Management, Tipton Tells Industry -
June 30, 2010
Dairy Farmers in Wis., Minn. Continue to Outperform 2009 Production Levels -
June 26, 2010
At Madison Forum, Farmers Call for Federal Probe of Dairy Industry -
June 25, 2010
Dairy Market Update: Wholesale Prices Recover from Last Year's Lows -
June 24, 2010
Dairy Hearing Planned -
June 23, 2010
Business Leaders Say Obama's Economic Policies Stifle Growth -
June 22, 2010
Farmers' Voices to be Heard at Dairy Meetings -
June 21, 2010
Column: Dairy Producers Lead Drive for Major Changes in 2012 Farm Bill -
June 18, 2010
Washington Conference Posts Big Success; Thank You, Sponsors! -
June 17, 2010
Opinion: Co-ops Give Dairy Farmers a Voice -
June 16, 2010
"Drawing a Line in the Sand against Supply Management," Washington Conference Welcome Address by Connie Tipton, IDFA President and CEO -
June 16, 2010
IDFA Vows to Fight Supply Management Proposal -
June 11, 2010
USDA Deputy Under Secretary Wright to Speak at Washington Conference -
June 10, 2010
IDFA Commends Proposals for Dairy Policy Reform, But Opposes Supply Management Plan -
June 10, 2010
NMPF Adopts Major Changes in Policy Direction -
June 5, 2010
Pennsylvania Dairy Farmer Payments May Rise -
June 4, 2010
Dairy Farmers to Receive Higher Premiums -
June 3, 2010
Dairy is $4.6 Billion Industry in State, Second Only to Swine in Livestock Sector -
June 2, 2010
A 10th Dairy Herd Retirement Round -
June 1, 2010
Bernanke Says Global Recovery Depends on Emerging Markets, Central Banks -
May 28, 2010
Dairy Market Update: USDA Outlook Predicts Continued Strength -
May 28, 2010
Senator Klobuchar Slated to Speak at Washington Conference -
May 27, 2010
Opinion: Unanimity Elusive on Dairy Supply Management -
May 24, 2010
Changes in Dairy Safety Net Expected -
May 24, 2010
Saying 'Cheese' with a Genuine Smile -
May 21, 2010
Field Hearings Reveal Divisions over Supply Management Policies -
May 17, 2010
Ag Committee Chairman Remains Optimistic About this Year's Farm Bill -
May 14, 2010
Costa Introduces Legislation To Strengthen Dairy Industry -
May 7, 2010
USDA Nutrition Programs to Allow Local Geographic Preference for Milk -
May 6, 2010
Owens named to Ag Committee -
May 5, 2010
Promises, Promises: Rich Farmers Get Most Cash -
May 3, 2010
Let the Marathon Farm Bill Process Begin -
April 30, 2010
Market Update: Farm Share of Retail Dairy Price Not Declining over Time -
April 30, 2010
Washington Conference: Be Here, Be Heard and Bring the Family -
April 26, 2010
Feds Invade Farm for 5 a.m. Inspection; Serve Warrant on Farmer up to Milk Cows -
April 26, 2010
N.D. Dairy Business Gets Milked Dry by Low Prices, Other Factors -
April 23, 2010
Food Groups Call for Sound Science in Dietary Guidelines Updates -
April 23, 2010
First Farm Bill Field Hearing Tackles Dairy Policy -
April 23, 2010
Raw milk: Personal Decision or Public Danger? -
April 23, 2010
Raw Milk Bill Passes State Assembly, Heads to Doyle -
April 22, 2010
Dairy Supports Debated as Work Starts on Farm Bill -
April 16, 2010
Tipton Outlines Policy Proposals at Dairy Advisory Committee Meeting -
April 2, 2010
USDA Schedules First Meeting of Dairy Industry Advisory Committee -
February 19, 2010
Specifications for Butter Traded at the CME Group Change March 1 -
February 3, 2010
President's New Budget Has Implications for Dairy -
January 29, 2010
Retail Price Trends Anything but Normal in 2009 -
January 18, 2010
Tipton Urges Industry Leaders to Remain Involved, Innovative, United -
January 6, 2010
Secretary Vilsack Announces Members of Dairy Advisory Committee -
December 31, 2009
Dairy Market Update: What a Difference a Year Makes -
December 21, 2009
USDA Expedites $60 Million in CCC Cheese Purchases -
December 18, 2009
USDA Moves Quickly to Send Direct Payments to Dairy Farmers -
December 18, 2009
California Approves Temporary Price Increase for Farm Milk -
December 15, 2009
Vilsack, Dairy Industry Announce Historic Agreement in Copenhagen -
November 20, 2009
Dairy COOL Not Included in Senate Markup of Food Safety Bill -
November 16, 2009
We All Have a Role in U.S. Dairy's Destiny, Tipton Says -
October 27, 2009
IDFA Chairman Tells Senate Now Is Time for Policies that Allow Innovation, Growth -
October 19, 2009
Senators Propose Country-of-Origin Labeling for All Dairy Products -
October 14, 2009
Chamber of Commerce Kicks off Campaign to Promote Free Enterprise -
October 12, 2009
Congress Approves Appropriations Bill; President Expected to Sign -
October 12, 2009
Tipton Joins Pundits, Policy Makers in Call for Political Involvement -
October 5, 2009
IDFA Pleased with Appropriations Compromise on Dairy Producer Assistance -
September 8, 2009
Questions Swirl around Sanders Amendment -
September 8, 2009
Interested in Serving on USDA's Dairy Advisory Committee? Let IDFA Know! -
August 31, 2009
USDA Announces Plans for Dairy Advisory Committee -
August 31, 2009
Wisconsin Farmer Says 'Marketplace Holds Answer to Dairy's Dilemma' -
August 10, 2009
IDFA Opposes Senate Move to Add $350 Million for Price Support Program -
August 10, 2009
DairyLine Broadcast Spotlights Need for Long-term Pricing Policy Solutions -
August 7, 2009
Dairy Processors Ask Lawmakers to Find More Constructive Use for $350 Million in Dairy Relief Funding -
August 3, 2009
As Dairy Hearings End, Congress Reinstates Dairy Farmer Caucus -
July 31, 2009
Dairy Processors Continue Push for Long-Term Changes to Dairy Policies -
July 27, 2009
Risk Management Expert Calls for Pricing Reform at House Dairy Hearing -
July 20, 2009
Milk Prices Discussed on National Public Radio's 'The Diane Rehm Show' -
July 20, 2009
Tax on Sweetened Beverages to Pay for Health Care Dropped -
July 14, 2009
IDFA Chairman Asks Congress for Long-term Policy Solutions to Help U.S. Dairy Industry Thrive -
July 14, 2009
IDFA Chairman to Testify at House Dairy Hearing -
July 13, 2009
IDFA, NMPF Urge House Finance Leaders to Abandon Flavored Milk Tax -
July 6, 2009
It's Official: Al Franken Wins House Seat in Minnesota -
July 6, 2009
IDFA Updates Federal Bill-Tracking Tool for Members -
June 29, 2009
Market Update: The Real Story on Farm Milk Prices vs. Retail Fluid Milk Prices -
June 22, 2009
House Committee Passes Food Safety Measure with Significant Change for Dairy -
June 1, 2009
IDFA, NMPF Urge Senate Finance Leaders to Abandon Flavored Milk Tax -
May 18, 2009
USDA Offers $18 Million in Cost-Share Grants
