WCMA Applauds U.S. House of Representatives Passage of New, Five-Year Farm Bill 

The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association (WCMA) today applauded passage of a long-awaited new five-year Farm Bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote of 224-200. WCMA released this statement from Rebekah Sweeney, WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy:

“The House passage of a new five-year Farm Bill marks an important step forward for U.S. agriculture and for the dairy processing community. After a week of uncertainty and late-night negotiations, we are encouraged to see bipartisan action delivering meaningful support for dairy through expanded nutrition programs, strengthened trade promotion, and risk management tools for producers and processors alike. 

“We also extend our sincere thanks to WCMA members for their strong and consistent advocacy through this lawmaking process. Your engagement – sharing perspectives, contacting lawmakers, and elevating dairy priorities – has been instrumental to ensuring our industry’s voice was heard at critical moments. 

“Advancing comprehensive agricultural policy is challenging in today’s political environment, but we look forward to working with U.S. Senate and House leaders to champion a final Farm Bill package that supports innovation, expands markets, and secures a strong future for the U.S. dairy industry.”

For dairy processors, the House-passed bill includes several important provisions:

• Expansion of dairy nutrition incentive projects to encourage purchases of milk, cheese, yogurt, and cultured products, and increased funding;
• Permanent authorization of Mandatory Cost Surveys within the Federal Milk Marketing Orders system;
• Strengthened trade promotion programs with increased funding and protections for common food names;
• Extension of the Dairy Forward Pricing Program;
• Support for serving whole and 2% milk in school breakfast programs following enactment of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act; and
• Via amendment, a measure ensuring all four Dairy Business Innovation Initiative centers are treated equitably. As a reminder, the Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives program was permanently authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill and requires only annual appropriations to continue.

WCMA will continue to advocate for dairy priorities as the Senate weighs this legislation, or crafts its own. We also encourage members to participate in WCMA’s Federal Advocacy Fly-In, May 12–13. Contact WCMA Senior Director of Programs & Policy Rebekah Sweeney to get involved in this timely and impactful opportunity.