IDFA Lauds House Farm Bill Draft Expanding SNAP Dairy Nutrition Incentives and Strengthening Key Dairy Programs

Today, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) released a draft Farm Bill that would expand the SNAP Healthy Fluid Milk Incentives (HFMI) projects into a broader Dairy Nutrition Incentive Projects (DNIP) that encourages the consumption of additional varieties of milk, as well as cheese.

“Chairman Thompson’s draft Farm Bill builds on the strong momentum behind dairy nutrition incentives and reflects a clear commitment to making America healthy again,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., president and CEO of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA). “By expanding SNAP dairy incentives to include additional nutritious dairy products and providing certainty to core federal dairy programs, this legislation ensures low-income families have greater access to affordable, wholesome dairy foods while giving farmers and processors the certainty they need to continue delivering for America.”

The House Farm Bill’s dairy incentives reflect provisions from the bipartisan Dairy Nutrition Incentives Program Act (H.R. 2496) co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), and 21 additional bipartisan Members of Congress in the House. The Senate version of DNIP (S. 1021) is co-led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and has 9 bipartisan co-sponsors. The House Farm Bill provisions expand the SNAP incentives beyond non-fat (skim) and low-fat (1%) milk to include additional varieties of milk, including whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk, as well as cheese. As of September 30, 2025, SNAP milk incentives have been redeemed by more than 600,000 unique SNAP households in 32 states.

In 2025, the Make America Healthy Again Commission highlighted how increasing dairy consumption through SNAP healthy eating incentives can improve health. Milk, cheese, yogurt and other cultured dairy products provide essential nutrients including high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D, that support improved health outcomes for Americans.

“This Congress and the Administration have an opportunity in the next Farm Bill to better leverage SNAP to expand access to nutritious dairy products and improve health outcomes for Americans,” said Dykes. “IDFA encourages Congress to include yogurt and other cultured dairy products in the DNIP program alongside milk and cheese. Strengthening dairy incentives through DNIP will help families put wholesome, affordable foods on the table while advancing the Make America Healthy Again agenda. SNAP purchases of more varieties of dairy also means greater support for America’s dairy farmers.”

The draft Farm Bill released today also includes several other IDFA priorities that support U.S. dairy. The bill includes a permanent authorization for Mandatory Cost Surveys that will ensure make allowances in the Federal Milk Marketing Orders accurately reflect the cost of manufacturing dairy products. The bill would also make the Dairy Forward Pricing Program permanent, thereby eliminating the possibility that forward pricing programs for Class II, III and IV proprietary plants and their producers will lapse if a new Farm Bill is not passed before the existing Farm Bill expires. In addition, the bill transfers administration of the Food for Peace program to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). IDFA supports USDA taking on responsibility for Food for Peace and looks forward to continued collaboration with USDA officials during the transition, including exploring opportunities to incorporate U.S. dairy products into future Food for Peace efforts.

“This draft Farm Bill further positions dairy at the heart of America’s nutrition strategy,” Dykes added. “When we invest in programs that expand access to milk, cheese, yogurt, and other nutritious dairy products, we invest in healthier families and a stronger nation. IDFA appreciates Chairman Thompson’s leadership and looks forward to working with lawmakers and the Administration to move this bill forward.”