22 minute read
LEGISLATIVE WATCH
Senator Stabenow Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Help Farmers Who Experience Delays in Planting Due to Bad Weather
United States Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure that farmers can plant beneficial cover crops without facing crop insurance penalties when bad weather prevents them from planting their crops for the season. “The Cover Crop Flexibility Act of 2021 was inspired by Senator Stabenow and Senator Gary Peters’s successful effort in 2019 to give flexibility to Michigan farmers after record-setting flooding and wet weather delayed planting. Currently, crop insurance penalizes farmers for planting cover crops that can be used for livestock grazing or animal feed when farmers can’t plant their crops for the season because of bad weather. The bill will permanently lift this restrictive rule and provide certainty if farmers face poor planting conditions again this spring. “Historic rainfall in 2019 caused many farmers to miss the planting season,” said Senator Stabenow. “When extreme weather gets in the way of planting, farmers aren’t able to grow beneficial cover crops without facing a crop insurance penalty. This commonsense change permanently fixes that problem and is a win for the environment and for farmers.”
Advertisement
Planting cover crops helps farmers get value from their land through grazing and harvesting. It also improves soil productivity and prevents weeds from overgrowing in fields. Cover crops also provide important climate and conservation benefits by storing harmful carbon pollution in the soil and reducing erosion and runoff into the Great Lakes. Because cover cropping makes farmland more resilient against flooding and drought, it has the potential to lower crop insurance claims, premiums, and taxpayer costs. The Cover Crop Flexibility Act of 2021 is supported by 37 farm and conservation organizations, including the MMPA, the Michigan Agri-Business Association, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Corn Growers Association, Michigan Soybean Association, and The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. “Unpredictable springtime weather poses risks for Michigan agriculture every year, and this bipartisan bill led by Sen. Debbie Stabenow helps ensure farmers who may have prevented planting claims can still unlock the many benefits of cover crops,” said Chuck Lippstreu, President of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. “As farmers and their trusted ag retail advisors look to cover crops for both economic and stewardship benefits, the Cover Crop Flexibility Act will provide added certainty well into the future.” “In 2019, Michigan's wet spring prevented nearly a million acres from being planted. Worse, these conditions led to shortages in hay and forages for livestock later in the season. Farmers in Michigan are resilient and frequently face weather extremes, but even they sometimes need help when severe conditions prevent them from producing a crop at all. Senator Stabenow's bill will provide farmers in Michigan and across the country with much-needed flexibility during critical weather-events like they experienced in 2019. Michigan Farm Bureau appreciates Senator Stabenow's leadership on this bipartisan legislation,” said Carl Bednarski, President of Michigan Farm Bureau. “Cover crops provide significant benefits to all of us in terms of erosion control, nutrient retention and helping to build soil health through carbon capture and increased soil organic matter,” said Madhu Anderson, Director of Government Relations for The Nature Conservancy in Michigan. “The Nature Conservancy strongly supports this legislation because we believe it will encourage more farmers to make cover crops a part of their cropping system.”
Dairy Farmers to Seek Emergency USDA Hearing on Class I Mover Reform Advisory Committee
The National Milk Producers Federation’s Board of Directors voted to request an emergency USDA hearing on a Federal Milk Marketing Order proposal to restore fairness for farmers in the Class I fluid milk price mover. The endorsement of the board, which represents dairy farmers and cooperatives nationwide, follows approval from the organization’s Executive Committee last week.
The NMPF plan would ensure that farmers recover lost revenue and establish more equitable distribution of risk among dairy farmers and processors. The current mover was adopted in the 2018 farm bill and intended to be revenue neutral while facilitating increased price risk management by fluid milk bottlers. But the new Class I mover contributed to disorderly marketing conditions last year during the height of the pandemic and cost dairy farmers over $725 million in lost income. NMPF’s proposal would help recoup the lost revenue and ensure that neither farmers nor processors are disproportionately harmed by future significant price disruptions. “As the COVID-19 experience has shown, market stresses can shift the mover in ways that affect dairy farmers much more than processors. This was not the intent of the Class I mover formula negotiated within the industry,” said Randy Mooney, the dairy farmer chairman of NMPF’s Board of Directors. “The current mover was explicitly developed to be a revenueneutral solution to the concerns of fluid milk processors about hedging their price risk, with equity among market participants a stated goal. “Dairy farmers were pleased with the previous method of determining Class I prices and had no need to change it, but we tried to accommodate the concerns of fluid processors for better risk management. Unfortunately, the severe imbalances we’ve seen in the past year plainly show that a modified approach is necessary. We will urge USDA to adopt our plan to restore equity and create more orderly marketing conditions,” Mooney said. While the current Class I mover was designed to improve the ability of fluid milk handlers to hedge milk prices using the futures market, it was also expected to be revenue-neutral compared to the formula it replaced. But that has not been the case. The significant gaps between Class III and IV prices that developed during the pandemic exposed dairy farmers to losses that were not experienced by processors, showing the need for a formula that better accounts for disorderly market condition.
DISTRICT 1
Dan Minnis, Dansville ..................517-719-5894 Scott Ferry, Litchfield ...................517-214-3298 Art Riske, Hanover .......................517-524-6015 Clark Emmons, Fayette, OH ..........419-466-4471 Brian Preston, Quincy...................517-376-1350
DISTRICT 2
Mark Crandall, Battle Creek..........269-660-2229 Michael Oesch, Middlebury, IN.....574-825-2454 Danny Ransler, Gobles..................269-998-3802 Josh Gamble, New Carlisle, IN ......574-360-7828 Richard Thomas, Middlebury, IN...574-202-5198
DISTRICT 3
Gary Nelsen, Grant.......................231-834-7610 Bill Gruppen, Zeeland ..................616-520-5143 Burke Larsen, Scottville................231-425-8988 Jonathon Acker, Sand Lake...........616-648-7037 Arlyn Walt, Coopersville ...............616-837-8247
DISTRICT 4
Matt Noffze, Hillman....................989-255-2184 Marvin Rubingh, Ellsworth ..........425-533-8106 Ron Lucas, Posen .........................989-379-4694 Dave Folkersma, Rudyard.............906-630-1957 Paul Ponik, Posen.........................989-464-5924
DISTRICT 5
Robert Lee, Marion ......................231-743-6794 John Black, Howard City...............231-846-7252 Jack Jeppesen, Stanton ................989-330-1905 Bruce Benthem, McBain...............231-920-1615 Mark Bontekoe, Marion................231-510-0764
DISTRICT 6
David Reed, Owosso.....................989-274-8147 Mike Halfman, St. Johns...............989-640-1962 Steve Thelen, Fowler....................989-640-1075 Ken Wieber, Fowler ......................989-292-1187 Renee McCauley, Lowell...............616-283-6411
DISTRICT 7
John Bennett, Prescott.................989-345-4264 Rodney Fowler, Chesaning ...........989-302-2299 Tracy House, Mt. Pleasant ............989-621-6610 Philip Gross, Weidman .................989-289-0670 Jason Elenbaum, Mayville............989-274-1974
DISTRICT 8
Darwin Sneller, Sebewaing ..........989-977-3718 Bill Blumerich, Berlin...................810-706-2955 Mike Noll, Croswell ......................810-404-4071 Jeremy Sharrard, Peck..................810-404-5076 Bryan Schulte, Ruth .....................989-551-8200
MMPA PARTNERS WITH CUSTOMERS ON COVER CROP & SOIL HEALTH PROJECT
BY ALLISON STUBY MILLER
The sustainability landscape across the globe, in the U.S. and even here at home continues to evolve. For agriculture, there is increased focus on a wide variety of practices that conserve and protect our land, water and soil.
One sustainability tactic that is gaining traction in the agriculture industry is the use of cover crops, or crops planted to cover the soil to conserve resources. To study and share the feasibility of cover crops, MMPA has been involved in a cover crop and soil health pilot project with two key customers: Unilever and Barry-Callebaut. The two international dairy companies approached MMPA to form a collaboration focused on exploring the economic and environmental benefits of cover crops with MMPA members. Jessie Deelo, North America sustainable dairy consultant, has been working with MMPA on the cover crop pilot project on behalf of Unilever.
“As the world’s largest ice cream producer, the importance of developing tools and programs to advance sustainable dairy production is imperative” Deelo said. “We recognize the critical role of our key suppliers, such as MMPA, and are excited to invest directly in dairy producers to support soil health practices.” A select group of MMPA members are participating in the sponsored program to further define the benefits of cover crops on Great Lakes region dairies and share these experiences with other fellow members. Recognizing the interest among customers on sustainable practices, Brent Wilson from Wilson Centennial Farm in Carson City, Michigan, was part of the initial cover crop pilot project. “We want to assure the customer, and ultimately the consumer, that what they are getting is a top-quality product raised in a sustainable way with best management practices,” Wilson said. The original farms enrolled in the pilot project agreed to a three-year commitment and completed the first planting in fall of 2020. Wilson said their farm decided to participate because they are interested in sustainable agriculture and were willing to trying out cover crops. In a conversation with MSU Extension Educator Paul Gross, Wilson acknowledged the results for his farm have been positive so far, with yields trending upward.
“You’re holding nutrients, holding water and your yields are trending up. That’s the trifecta,” Gross said. “I call that sustainability,” Wilson replied. Another program participant—Rod Fowler from Fowler Dairy in Chesaning, Michigan—is no stranger to cover crops. His farm has planted cover crops, primarily rye, for over a decade. Fowler’s dad decided to try cover crops after attending an MSU Extension meeting several years ago. “We tried it small and just added. Now any low residue crop gets a cover crop in the fall.”
THE COVER CROP VIRTUAL FIELD DAY ON JUNE 15 WILL INCLUDE RECORDED FARM VISITS WITH MSU EXTENSION EDUCATOR PAUL GROSS (RIGHT) AND MMPA MEMBERS INCLUDING ROD FOWLER (LEFT).
Speaking with Gross, Fowler remarked on the added value from planting cover crops over the years, in crop yields, water retention and overall soil health. Gross was able to immediately recognize the health of the soil and root systems in the field after digging out a small chunk of the earth.
“Look at the aggregates that are starting to build around these roots,” Gross said. “It’s always pretty impressive to see a live root and those rhizosphere effects. This is just a contribution that covers have to your soil. Put a little manure on it and it’s putting these microbes on steroids and just pumping carbon into the soil.” Doug Chapin, MMPA board chairman and owner of Chapin Family Farms in Remus, Michigan, also took part in the cover crop pilot. Chapin’s primary interest was monitoring soil health and learning “if keeping these fields green can help with our phosphorus levels and keeping that nutrient more available to the next crop,” he said. The program involves monitoring soil health metrics with support from the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and will ultimately generate a report of all program metrics regarding soil health, adoption of the cover crop practice in acres and farms and associated conservation practices. A few months into the pilot, the project is gearing up for a field day—led by MSU Extension Educators Gross and Dean Baas—to share in progress results and more information about cover crops with the MMPA membership. The virtual event will include recorded farm visits with six MMPA members, including Wilson, Fowler and Chapin. As more farmers and dairy processors show interest in sustainable practices, education and collaboration will be key to helping study and potentially adopt new practices like cover crops. “All practices have to be economically viable. I am hoping this study will show that these practices can be viable,” Chapin said. “I hope this project shows other members how to try it and see how it fits their operation. We will all learn from each other on this.”
THE MMPA COVER CROP PROJECT VIRTUAL FIELD DAY WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 15 FROM 10 TO 11:30 A.M. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO WWW.MIMILK.COM/MEMBERSHIP/ONFARM-PARTNERSHIP/COVER-CROPS.
Research CommitmentHelp ing you solv Proprietary technologies e the prof t puzzle . RationFlex Lactation SolutionsSM farm-specific customization Commodity procurement & market expertise
Value-added products for all phases
Committed to helping you find solutions.
Advanced ration balancing models for exacting nutrition
Price risk management
On-farm consultation
Let’s solve the puzzle together.
Call 866-666-7626 • Email AN_DairyHelp@adm.com Visit ADMAnimalNutrition.com
DAIRY’S ROLE IN THE SOLUTION TO FIGHT HUNGER
BY EMILY KITTENDORF
The United Dairy Industry of Michigan carries the dairy community’s spirit of giving to secure dairy’s role in the solution to end hunger.
The dairy community never thinks twice about helping a neighbor in need. At a local level, MMPA members regularly show up to support their community at fundraising dinners, charity events and pledge campaigns. While many of these events may have been cancelled or postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people in need has continued to increase.
According to Feeding America, 42 million people may face hunger because of COVID-19, causing a 55 percent increase in the number of people seeking help from food banks. On behalf of dairy farmers, the United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) stepped in during the pandemic to help meet the need for food security in communities all across the state of Michigan.
“Food security is fluid and people use food banks for a variety of reasons,” Cortney Freeland, Director, Youth Wellness Programs at UDIM said. “Our goal is to keep milk as part of a necessary food for everyone, no matter their economic status.”
Keeping Milk Necessary to Everyone
In response to the increased need, UDIM expanded the programs that they had in place, along with developing new ones, to be reactive to the situation at hand. They supplemented the efforts of individual dairy farmers helping to ensure that no one goes hungry in Michigan.
“Our endeavors include raising awareness with consumers through retail milk drives and outreach initiatives, supporting our food bank partners building infrastructure to store and transport dairy and securing access to dairy in the food bank system,” Freeland said. “The support varies across our food bank partners based on their individual and unique needs for serving their client base.” In a time of need, food banks were turning to UDIM for help servicing the growing number of people in need of nutritious foods like dairy. As members of the dairy community know, storing milk brings unique challenges with the limited shelf life and need for cold storage that were limiting food banks in the amount of dairy they could provide. In response to food banks’ needs and during a time of an oversupply of milk due to the closing of restaurants, UDIM stepped up and developed a cooler grant program, benefitting farmers and communities alike.
“Launched in response to requests from our dairy farmers’ communities about the increased need to provide food, including dairy, to their communities as COVID-19 shut down the economy, UDIM implemented two cooler grant programs in 2020,” Freeland said. “We were able to distribute 36 coolers as part of these cooler grant programs.” The 36 coolers sit in food pantries throughout the state of Michigan and continue to service communities today. The impact is noticeable and the food pantries have been incredibly grateful. “With the donation of this cooler, we can store more milk and pass it out to the families and individuals we serve,” a cooler grant recipient said. “Before receiving this donation, we did not have proper storage to keep milk and cheese on hand to pass out when a family requested it. We now have dairy on hand for anyone who asks for it.” MMPA member Kip Siegler was one of many farmers who took advantage of the cooler grant program, helping strengthen his community’s food bank infrastructure for providing milk to his neighbors in need. “Giving back to our community and people in need has always been important to us at Siegler Dairy Farm,” Siegler said. “We were able to get our local food bank a new milk cooler and they couldn’t have been more happy.”
MMPA MEMBER KIP SIEGLER (R) HELPED SECURE A MILK COOLER FOR HIS LOCAL FOOD BANK, USING A UDIM GRANT.
Keeping Milk a Part of Students’ Nutrition
Along with the cooler grant program, UDIM paid careful attention to the pivot schools made from providing dairy during lunch time while in person in school, to strictly virtual schooling. They relied on relationships with school nutrition staff to ensure that dairy continued to be a crucial piece of students’ nutrition.
UDIM'S EFFORTS RECENTLY INCLUDED SUPPLYING GLEANERS COMMUNITY FOOD BANK WITH A MILK TRUCK, SUPPORTED BY MICHIGAN’S DAIRY FARMERS.
“When schools closed due to COVID-19, school nutrition staff made sure that students could still access the meals they needed,” Freeland said. “School meals are a nutrition lifeline to many children and families, easing the financial strain and uncertainty by providing a comforting source of consistency for students.” UDIM recognized the school nutrition staff who worked tirelessly through the pandemic after being declared essential along with others in agriculture and the food industry. In recognition and celebration of the work that food service heroes do, UDIM launched the MI Food Heroes program, lifting up individuals crucial to ensuring that Michigan youth receive the nutrients they need, including those found in dairy. “One in four children and one in six adults are experiencing food insecurity and those numbers only look more grim amid the current crisis,” Freeland said. “The need for food among our most vulnerable populations is not going away and the impacts of the pandemic will last for years to come.” In 2021, as we continue to battle the effects of COVID-19 nearly a year and a half later, an estimated 42 million people, including 13 million children are at risk of hunger, according to Feeding America. UDIM continues to support the dairy community’s spirit of giving alongside farmers, schools, cooperatives, processors, food banks and others to support our neighbors impacted by hunger.
MMPA and FBCM Hunger Initiatives:
While UDIM was helping secure milk and dairy for food banks while strengthening their infrastructure, the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) was overwhelmed by the growing number of people who were going hungry due to COVID-19 related hardships.
“Over the last year, Michigan’s food banks distributed over 40 percent more food than a typical year to help meet the needs of our communities,” Phil Knight, Executive Director at FBCM said. “We have worked with many organizations to supplement the food our partner food banks have distributed. MMPA continues to play a key role in ensuring the people in our communities have access to fresh milk.”
Milk remains one of the most requested items at food pantries. In 2020, FBCM’s seven member food banks distributed over 730,000 gallons of fresh milk and one million pounds of cheese. Many of these distributions were made possible by the work of legislators developing programs and securing funding to allow even more dairy products to end up in the fridges of those who needed it most.
“The USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes was introduced a year ago and Michigan’s food bank network distributed over 50 million pounds of food through this USDA program,” Knight said. “The CARES Act allowed us to purchase $19 million worth of food, of which $3 million was dedicated to purchasing Michigan dairy.”
Some of the funding that FBCM received was used to purchase more than 80,000 pounds of Heritage Ridge Creamery cheese to distribute to food insecure families. In conjunction with Kroger’s Michigan Dairy plant, MMPA also donated over 85,000 gallons of milk to the FBCM and donated butter and Heritage Ridge Creamery cheese to local food banks in Michigan and Indiana.
EVIDENCE THAT MOVING FORWARD IS POSSIBLE
As long-time members of MMPA, 35- and 50-year members’ experiences overcoming the changes in markets, regulations and leadership within the industry over the past many years serve as evidence that moving forward is possible.
The knowledge and wisdom that they share within their community ensures the success of the dairy industry and MMPA for many years to come. Our cooperative wouldn’t be the same today without their presence and leadership. Thank you, 35- and 50-year members for your dedication and service to MMPA.
Ken Nobis
Hometown: St. Johns, Michigan Contract Date: June 1971 Generations on the Farm: 3 Milking Herd: 1,100
How was your farm started?
It goes back to the early 1900s. Both sides of my family are originally from Illinois and my paternal grandfather rode a train to Michigan. He started out as a share cropper. My dad was the oldest of the three sons they had on the farm. In the mid-40s they formed a partnership and farmed together until my grandfather passed away in 1956. The partnership broke up after the youngest brother wanted out, but my dad stayed on the dairy farm and ended up beginning this farm with 334 acres.
There’s a lot of differences. The market is hugely different than back when I started. The only time you exported was when you had milk you wanted to dump. Today, if we can’t grow exports then the industry is stagnant in terms of milk production.
Environmentally we have made tremendous strides. It’s not because we purposefully did things wrong, it’s that we didn’t know any better and now that we do know better, people are doing a much better job protecting the environment.
If you like what you’re doing, stick with it. I think there are better times ahead. Build your future with an open mind. Not all the rules and regulations that are talked about are necessarily bad and look at things from both sides of an issue.
Edward Adamic
Lori Laing
Paul Ponik
Scott Stough
Steven Thelen
Neil Weidmayer Gordon Behrenwald
Frederic Halbert
Ken Nobis
Bernard Baker
Donald Bever
mimilk.com
Scott Stough
Hometown: Posen, Michigan Contract Date: January 1986 Generations on the Farm: 4 Milking Herd Size: 80-90
How was your farm started?
My great grandpa had a farm a mile down the road. They had four kids. Two ended up going to college and one went in the army and my grandpa stayed home to help with the farm. In return, my great grandpa helped him start this farm. My dad was the only child, so even though it was a small farm, my dad had his own car to drive to high school and there was only two in the whole high school at the time.
My first thought is cereal and ice cream. I don’t look at it as a job, it’s just life. I just take care of the cows and they take care of me.
How has MMPA helped your farm succeed?
It helps with field staff come and give us pointers. They keep us on our toes and help us be prepared for the inspector.
What’s made you remain an MMPA member for so long?
I’m not much of a complainer. I don’t know the price of gas. I don’t know the price of milk. I just do my job. The people down there at MMPA say something is good and I say that’s fine with me!
I care about the milk prices, but I don’t let them upset me. Be ready to adapt. Hang in there. Go big or go home.
Steve Thelen
Hometown: Fowler, Michigan Contract Date: January 1986 Generations on the Farm: 4 Milking Herd: 1,600
How has your farm changed or evolved through the years?
It’s grown. The milk per cow is going up, their ability to produce milk and the on-farm technology has changed. Whether it’s planting corn, harvesting crops or milking crops, everything is more tuned in and finessed.
Working outdoors and growing crops to feed your cows! It’s just a big circle the thing keeps rolling and is self-sustained.
Scope of the operations, the industry has really grown. The amount of land people work, the amount of cows people milk, everything has grown substantially. The style of milking parlors has also changed and technology on farms is completely different.
Cow comfort. The quality of feeds that we can put up, the nutrition we can feed the cows, the sand stalls the cows are in, the parlor, everything is better for the cow.
Where do you think the future of the industry is heading?
The industry is going to follow technology. The guys will figure out how to feed the cows better, care for them better and get more milk out of them. It’s the trend of the future.
How has MMPA helped your farm succeed?
MMPA always has a reliable place for our milk and over the years they have been consistent with market shares, how they market their milk and giving us return on our investments.
