NMPF Hosts Fireside Chat with House Ag Chair, Panel Discussions at Expo

NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud was joined by Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, for a fireside chat exploring the issues shaping dairy’s future Oct. 1 at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI.

From the farm bill and agricultural labor reform to whole milk and beyond, Doud and Thompson discussed where key policies stand in Washington, and what’s at stake for dairy farmers and their cooperatives.

“I think, in the lame duck after this election is over, cooler heads will prevail,” Thompson said about passing the next iteration of the farm bill. “We all, every House member and especially every senator has a lot of constituents who will benefit from the provisions of that remaining farm bill.”

The fireside chat was part of a full lineup of expert panel discussions hosted by NMPF and The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program at World Dairy Expo.

NMPF’s National YC Program began the Oct. 1 programming with a panel discussion on how dairy farmers are optimizing milk production to meet evolving market demands. CoBank’s Corey Geiger helped set the stage with background on the current economic trends. Nate Zwald of Progenco, Progressive Dairy Solution’s Dr. John Goeser and dairy farmer Jordan Siemers of Siemers Holsteins all provided their perspective on ways to improve profitability, enhance component output and respond to market signals more effectively.

NMPF Chief Sustainability Officer Nicole Ayache led a panel discussion on how FARM ES is opening doors to new value streams. Later in the day, the FARM Program, in partnership with the Beef Quality Assurance program, hosted a session focused on how to protect dairy herds from New World screwworm.

The day concluded with another panel discussion featuring Trey Forsyth, NMPF vice president of government and regulatory affairs, and Mary Knigge, DFA vice president of government relations, examining key congressional races and how shifts in Congress could reshape the policy landscape for dairy farmers — and how advocacy may need to evolve in response to post-election dynamics.

The National YC Program also partnered with the Dairy Girl Network to host a panel on Oct. 2 featuring women leaders in the U.S. dairy industry, including Allison Thomas of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, dairy farmer Becky Nyman, and Sara Dorland with Ceres Dairy Risk Management. Led by Dairy Girl Network’s Laura Daniels, the discussion highlighted how export growth influences domestic milk prices and supports the long-term profitability of U.S. dairy farms.

Earlier in the week, NMPF’s Tony Rice and Trey Forsyth joined the Open Door Exchange to lead a discussion with producers on labor issues and trade policy opportunities. Producers also had opportunities to connect with NMPF and the FARM Program throughout the week at an exhibit hall booth stocked with free posters, manuals and other resources.