By Jamie Martin
The U.S. Senate has approved major dairy-friendly provisions in a new farm bill, earning praise from the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which is urging quick passage by the House.
“This legislation supports dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own,” said NMPF President Gregg Doud. He added that the organization is eager to see the bill become law without delay.
The bill proposes to extend the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program through 2031, while updating the production history to reflect farmers’ best production years from 2021 to 2023. It also provides a 25% discount for long-term coverage commitments.
To improve transparency, the USDA will conduct biannual dairy cost surveys, helping guide future discussions around dairy processor margins and make allowances.
Conservation efforts will be strengthened by rolling remaining Inflation Reduction Act dollars into the farm bill’s budget, ensuring continued support for oversubscribed programs like EQIP.
The bill includes increased trade promotion funding, expected to generate over $20 in export revenue for every dollar invested, and more support for animal health, targeting threats like the H5N1 outbreak.
Another key provision is the permanent extension of the Section 199A tax deduction, helping farmer-owned cooperatives retain or reinvest their financial benefits.
NMPF expressed thanks to leaders such as Reps. GT Thompson and Jason Smith, and Sens. John Boozman and Mike Crapo, for supporting dairy-focused policy.
With bipartisan backing, the NMPF remains hopeful that this legislation will be finalized quickly, delivering long-term certainty and tools for continued growth in the dairy sector.
Photo Credit: national-milk-producers-federation
Categories: National