IDFA in the News
May 1, 2011
Milk Pricing Arguments Get Frothy
The May issue of Dairy Foods magazine discusses "the battle of ideas" surrounding industry calls to reform milk pricing policies. It mentions IDFA President and CEO Connie Tipton's keynote address at the Dairy Forum in January and IDFA's three constituent organizations (the Milk Industry Foundation, the National Cheese Institute and the International Ice Cream Association) voting to support IDFA's dairy policy reform recommendations and oppose the National Milk Producers Federation's dairy policy package.
READ MORE ››April 28, 2011
Dairy Import Assessment Draws Opposition
Several domestic dairy groups, including IDFA and the National Milk Producers Federation, have renewed their opposition to including U.S. dairy importers in the checkoff program, according to this article in the Capital Press. IDFA Vice President of Communications Peggy Armstrong said IDFA is concerned that foreign trade partners might retaliate, which would affect U.S. dairy exports.
READ MORE ››April 27, 2011
Dairy Associations: New Labeling Bill Is Not COOL at All
Legislation designed to help U.S. dairy farmers could have the unintended consequence of encouraging firms to replace dairy ingredients from U.S. suppliers with non-dairy ingredients just to avoid labeling headaches, IDFA and the National Milk Producers Federation told DairyReporter.com.
READ MORE ››March 25, 2011
All-Natural, Affordable Indulgences Among Top Trends Driving Retail Sales
According to an article posted by Gourmet Retailer, five key consumer trends will guide successful products in the coming year, and milk and cultured dairy products are no exception. That was the basis of a presentation by Mintel's Lynn Dornblaser this past week at the Milk and Cultured Dairy Products Symposium, held near Chicago by IDFA.
READ MORE ››March 24, 2011
Checkoff Fees Expand
The Capital Press reports that dairy importers and producers in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico will have to pay the checkoff fees that are applied to producers in the 48 continental states under a rule that the Agriculture Department's Agricultural Marketing Service published last week. IDFA CEO Connie Tipton, who opposed the expansion of the assessment, told Capital Press, "I feel quite good that it has taken nearly 10 years for this to move forward. It doesn't make sense to me to send a message to our trading partners that we intend to impose new taxes on their products but we expect no counter measures by them."
READ MORE ››March 23, 2011
Spilled Milk Battle Reaches White House
The Hill explains that the dairy industry is pressing the White House to make absolutely certain that the Environmental Protection Agency's plan to exempt milk containers from oil-spill prevention rules truly lets the industry off the hook. IDFA officials met with the White House Office of Management and Budget last week to discuss EPA's pending exemption, a meeting that also included staff from EPA, the Agriculture Department and the Small Business Administration.
READ MORE ››March 20, 2011
Dairy Policy Changes Sluggish
An article in the Watertown Daily Times said the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) was open to the idea of making dairy policy changes this year - if dairy farmer and processor groups can reach agreement on major points. But the National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association have sharply disagreed on a key proposal.
READ MORE ››March 19, 2011
U.S. Set to Enact Fee on Dairy Importers
The Watertown Daily Times featured a story on the federal government's plan to start charging importers of dairy products a fee to support dairy-promotion programs, a move long sought by farm groups but opposed by U.S. companies that import dairy ingredients for various foods. The International Dairy Foods Association criticized the move, and the National Milk Producers Federation welcomed it.
READ MORE ››March 10, 2011
IDFA Urges Vilsack to Implement DIAC Recommendations
An article posted by Wisconsin Ag Connection says leaders of more than 30 IDFA member companies urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to implement nearly all of the reforms recommended by the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee. They also urged him not to endorse any proposal to manipulate milk supplies or manage industry growth in a letter sent this week.
READ MORE ››March 2, 2011
Workers Take Control of Training
An article in the Miami Herald explains that most trade associations now offer webinars to keep members up to date on the emerging trends in their industries. It mentions IDFA's expanded educational programs, including webinars that will teach members how to embrace new packaging technology. Often, the group will offer an interactive format, followed by an on-demand replay for scheduling flexibility.
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