Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative | Our Issues
Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative is a consistent voice for policies that will help advance dairy farming throughout the U.S. We monitor economic, regulatory and legislative developments at the state and federal levels that could affect our farmers. We partner
with other national and regional dairy advocacy groups so we can pool our influence for positive changes. Here are some of the issues on which we work:
New Administration Priorities
With the November elections behind us, our focus now turns to the new incoming administration. As with any new administration, we need to be aware of the new priorities and will be focusing on those areas that have the most impact on farmers and the dairy community. Our Edge government affairs team, board and our consultants are actively working on your behalf to ensure the voices of dairy farmers in the upper Midwest are heard. We are closely monitoring the activity and messaging of the incoming administration through the lens of our members. We will continue to work with elected officials and appointed cabinet members to fight for your priorities, including workforce, trade and taxes. In the meantime, we want to point you toward a valuable resource on our website that can help cut through the clutter of noise, particularly speculation as we wait for final decisions on cabinet appointments and other pending activities.
Today’s fast-moving media and social media can push savvy but busy business owners such as yourselves to become optimistic or pessimistic about a business situation based on just one sound byte or meme. In this time of transition, we encourage you to rely on well-sourced facts. On the Edge website you will find the 2024 Post-Election Report compiled by our consultants at the Torrey Advisory Group in Washington, D.C. Review the information provided, including specific issue memos on some of Edge’s priority policy issues such as workforce, trade and taxes. We welcome your feedback that can be directed via email to Karen Gefvert at kgefvert@voiceofmilk.com at any time. We anticipate that many of those policy areas will be a focus of the new administration and we are ready to engage.
As we move closer to Inauguration Day, the president’s cabinet will form and we will begin to see how the new administration will operate. We are already engaging in conversations with those who we anticipate will be affecting agriculture to express our priorities. We will keep you informed and again encourage you to reach out to our Edge staff if you have any specific questions or concerns.
Climate and environmental sustainability
| Edge stands with our farmers in their commitment to seek effective and financially viable ways to protect and improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We believe environmentally focused policies affecting agriculture should be guided by farmers, grounded in science, driven by the marketplace and sufficiently flexible to allow for innovation at the farm level.
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Farm bill advocacy
 | The 2025 farm bill will be an essential opportunity to retool existing program adjustments needed to the Dairy Margin Coverage program, ensuring conservation programs are funded, voluntary and based on science, as well as maintenance to several dairy indemnity and donation programs. These programs can greatly affect our farmers’ ability to earn a living.
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Accurate dairy product labeling
| Dairy products are safe, wholesome and nutritious and should be accurately represented to customers as such. While there is room for a variety of products in the marketplace, it is wrong to mislead customers. Some non-dairy imitations violate existing labeling laws. |
Milk pricing reform
 | Federal Milk Marketing Orders are in need of updating to reflect flexibility and fairness in the current system. A regional approach to accommodate geographic differences in milk markets would provide flexibility. Transparency and a set of contracting principles would make the pricing system fairer and more equitable while also building confidence in the system for both farmers and processors. The Class III plus proposal is the preferred solution to update the Class I mover. |
Trade and supply chain
 | The Upper Midwest is a powerhouse for cheese production. Ensuring opportunities for dairy through existing, expanding or emerging markets is essential to healthy growth. New and expanded markets through new trade agreements, renegotiated trade agreements and enforcement of existing agreements provide opportunities for market access.
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Rural workforce for rural prosperity
 | The dairy industry faces significant labor shortages, particularly in rural areas, making workforce accessibility and reliability a top policy priority
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