Dairy Processing - July/Aug 2024 - 26

the organization's priorities.
" There remains much
work to do for both
committees and all of
Congress to develop a
bipartisan Farm Bill that
can win passage in both
chambers to become law, "
Dykes said. " IDFA and
its member leaders will
continue to advocate with
bipartisan committee leaders,
as well as their respective
staffs, to ensure our industry's
full set of priorities are reflected
in future Farm Bill drafts and,
There remains
much work to
do for both
committees and
all of Congress
to develop a
bipartisan Farm
Bill that can win
passage in both
chambers to
become law. "
Michael Dykes, International
Dairy Foods Association
Farm Bill sets the stage for US food and farm
systems by providing support for America's
farmers, ranchers and forest stewards through
a variety of safety net, farm loan, conservation
and disaster assistance programs.
Every five years, the farm bill expires and is
updated. It goes through an extensive process
during which it is proposed, debated and passed
by Congress before being signed into law by the
president. Each farm bill has a unique title, and
the current farm bill is called the Agriculture
Improvement Act of 2018. It was enacted into
law in December 2018 and was originally set to
expire in 2023.
However, on Nov. 16, 2023, President
Joe Biden signed into law HR 6363, the
Further Continuing Appropriations and Other
Extensions Act, 2024, which extended the 2018
Farm Bill. This extension allows authorized
programs to continue through Sept. 30, 2024.
The framework for the next Farm Bill set
forth by the Senate Agriculture Committee
drew the approval of at least two dairy
trade associations.
US Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), ranking
member on the committee, released a plan for
the Farm Bill that reflected the priorities of
Senate Republicans.
The International Dairy Foods Association
(IDFA), Washington, applauded various features
of the Senate committee's structure that mirror
26 JUL-AUG 2024 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
ultimately, a bipartisan Farm Bill that
can be enacted into law. "
Members of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers
Association (WCMA), Madison, Wis., also shared
their appreciation for the Senate Republicans'
Farm Bill plans, noting the framework's support
for Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives (DBII).
DBBI is administered by the US Department
of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing
Service (AMS) and provides resources to four
regional initiatives headquartered in Wisconsin,
California, Vermont and Tennessee.
" To have both parties in the Senate calling
for more monies for DBII in the next Farm Bill
demonstrates both their appreciation of the
program's impact - creating a resilient food
supply chain and stronger rural communities -
and their understanding of the challenges dairy
farmers and processors face now, " said Rebekah
Sweeney, WCMA's senior director of programs
and policy. " As work continues on the Farm
Bill, we hope all lawmakers will agree that a
measured increase in DBII funding over the next
five years will pay off for generations to come. "
WCMA noted that since the 2018 Farm Bill
launched DBII, the Dairy Business Innovation
Alliance administered by the association and
the Center for Dairy Research has provided
more than $16.5 million to dairy businesses
via 213 grants.
WCMA and Organic Valley penned a letter
to Congress asking for DBII to be fully funded
in the next Farm Bill. The letter was backed by
more than 200 dairy industry leaders.
©Antonio Gravante-stock.adobe.com
http://www.DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
Dairy Processing - July/Aug 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dairy Processing - July/Aug 2024
