IDFA and NMPF submit dairy plans to USDA
The US National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) submitted a joint plan to the US Department of Agriculture, to confront the Covid-19 dairy crisis.
“While no plan can wholly remedy the losses that are occurring, dairy is responding with a united plan that can help mitigate the damage caused to it by the Covid-19 pandemic. After extensive discussions across the industry, we have developed this comprehensive action plan to address many of the key marketplace challenges created by the pandemic and are presenting it to USDA,” said NMPF CEO, Jim Mulhern.
The proposal is broken into three categories: producer initiatives, processor initiatives and consumer initiatives.
Producer Initiatives. The groups are proposing all producers cut their production 10% from a March 2020 baseline. This voluntary reduction programme would then pay $3 (€2.72) per cwt on the remaining 90% through September should the average Class III/IV price stay below $16 (€14.51). The second producer initiative would ensure producers are paid for milk dumped due to Covid-19. This program would run through June, which is when most analysts expect dumping to end. They are also calling for Dairy Margin Coverage programme enrolment to reopen with a retroactive sign up at no premium discount.
Processor Initiatives. The groups would like to see a loan programme to provide processors with access to more working capital. The programme would only cover Federal Milk Marketing Order component costs and would not cover packaging etc. They would also like to see a forgivable loan programme for processors similar to the Small Business Administration loan programme.
Consumer Initiatives. The proposal includes large purchases of dairy products by USDA to be distributed directly to food banks. It also calls for limitations on programmes like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to be lifted which would allow those consumers to purchase a wider variety of dairy products. The groups would also like to see USDA improve existing nutritional programmes including the Supplemental Nutrition Programme to address food security and boost retail dairy sales.
“Our main problem is clear: We estimate that supply exceeds demand by at least 10% – a gap that could widen as supply increases to its seasonal peak and as ‘shelter in place’ conditions endure,” said Michael Dykes, CEO of IDFA.
“The Milk Crisis Plan for USDA presents our objectives to support US dairy through this crisis, beginning with an urgent plea: Use as many tools as possible – as quickly as possible – to bridge the supply/demand gap, without any longer term market repercussions.”
