Department of Agriculture officials are grappling with producer skepticism along with privacy and inadequate publicity concerns as signup for 2020 Dairy Margin Coverage begins.

Dean Foods says it plans to leave the International Dairy Foods Association, saying one of the company’s key priorities – how to approach plant-based dairy alternatives using traditional nomenclature – is “no longer shared by the entire IDFA organization.”

The debate over the role of nonfat solids in the nation’s milk is back as organizations and government officials look for a way to put a little more money in the producer’s pocket.

In collaboration with Fair Trade USA, the World Wildlife Fund, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), Cornell University, other state programs, and dairy farmers, Chobani is spearheading the effort to validate the good work producers are making when dairy farming.

“Whatever issues led to us not continuing our membership 12 years ago, which was before my time, we are a more national industry now.”

While many farmers and ranchers have been successful in reducing their carbon footprint, making significant new progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require government assistance and new financial incentives, especially now that farmers are struggling to cope with depressed commodity prices, senators were told Tuesday.

Dairy farmers considering whether to sign up for the new farm bill benefits should consider this: Milk prices are likely to remain relatively stagnant for several years due in part to consolidation that has made many farms less responsive to market signals.

Despite the 35-day shutdown that all but halted work on the new farm bill, USDA is close to finishing work on a timeline for implementing its revisions to programs.