NMPF chairman sets out dairy labour and school-milk lobbying priorities
Speaking at NMPF’s annual meeting, the chairman described his first year in the role and his experience representing dairy interests in Washington. His remarks were published as an edited transcript on October 29, 2026. He linked his address to the 2026 Dairy Joint Annual Meeting’s theme of commitment, resilience and readiness.
On agricultural employment, he identified the Securing Agricultural Workforce Act as a continuing focus of NMPF’s advocacy. Nutrition priorities included restoring whole milk to schools, retaining flavoured milk in school meals and maintaining dairy’s place in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. He described these policy efforts as requiring sustained engagement from farmers, with obstacles sometimes arising even when a campaign appeared close to its objective.
The chairman cited farm margins, increasing input expenses and diesel costs among the pressures affecting dairy businesses. He said market uncertainty would continue to pose difficulties for farmers. He compared the persistence needed in policy work with the daily demands of livestock care and crop production, and said NMPF employees were working on farmers’ behalf in the capital.
Recalling several trips to Washington on dairy issues, he said legislators had stressed the importance of hearing directly from producers. He encouraged farmers to explain their experiences to policymakers and host them on farms so they could see how policy decisions affected agricultural businesses. In his account, participation by farmers was central to the effectiveness of their representative organisations, even when their advocacy did not appear to be gaining attention.
He also emphasised relationships and preparation, saying NMPF staff and industry partners helped farmers remain informed. He presented continued involvement in industry organisations as a responsibility towards younger producers. His own decision to spend time away from his farm on advocacy, he said, reflected his concern for his family and other dairy farmers.
The chairman called for maintaining the strength of NMPF, Dairy Management Inc. (DMI) and other dairy organisations so that future farmers would have institutions to support them. He acknowledged that the next generation would face difficulties that current producers could not all resolve, and said his intention was to continue helping establish that institutional foundation.
