Members connect and engage at policy picnics

More than 200 people attended five meetings held around Wisconsin at DBMMC and DBA member farms in July.

Participants of our Policy Picnics enjoyed a meal, conversation and presentations by John Holevoet and Aaron Stauffacher of our government affairs team about what dairy farmers can expect with state and federal policies in the coming year.

Holevoet discussed various proposals regarding a sustainable workforce and the probability of those plans moving forward. DBMMC is engaged on this issue with the Agriculture Workforce Coalition, a group comprised of a broad range of interests seeking immigration reform.

Holevoet also noted that preparation for a new farm bill is underway and that DBMMC is looking for a solution that would improve risk management tools available to dairy farmers. MPP has been ineffective in recent years. Several options that have been discussed so far include restoring the original feed cost formula, using different data points, expanding Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy (LGM-D) and Farm Bureau’s Dairy-Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP) plan. DBMMC would like to hear from our members on ideas for MPP. Please contact Holevoet or Stauffacher if you have comments.

Stauffacher talked about the importance of trade to dairy farmers and the latest news on NAFTA, trade issues with Canada and the potential for new bilateral free trade agreements as well as the impact they could have on U.S. dairy markets. Environmental policy and dairy product labeling also were discussed on the federal level.  

There was also a recap of a Washington, D.C., trip the DBMMC board and Political Affairs Committee members took in June to engage with our policymakers and lawmakers.

Wisconsin-specific issues that were covered included recent high-capacity well legislation, possible new NR 151 standards, ATCP 51 revision, transportation funding and the new VTA and calf hutch standards.

Great questions and conversations continued long after the Policy Picnics adjourned.

Host farms included DBA and DBMMC members Hallet Dairy LLC, Jon-De Farm Inc., Dutch Dairy LLC, SunBurst Dairy Inc. and Hilltop Dairy LLC. Thank you to these members who graciously opened up their farms!

Also, a special thanks to the corporate DBA members that sponsored these events: Agri-King, Auth Consulting and Associates, Compeer Financial, Leedstone, Mycogen and Union Bank and Trust Company. Thanks to Grande Cheese and Saputo for donating cheese.