USDA to Provide Aid to Organic Dairy Producers for Marketing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide assistance for dairy producers with the new Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program. ODMAP is established to help mitigate market volatility, higher input and transportation costs, and unstable feed supply and prices that have created unique hardships in the organic dairy industry. Specifically, under the ODMAP, USDA’s Farm Service Agency is making $104 million available to organic dairy operations to assist with projected marketing costs in 2023, calculated using their marketing costs in 2022.
“Organic dairy producers have faced significant and unique increases in their marketing costs, compounded by increases in feed and transportation costs and the limited availability of organic grain and forage commodities,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Without assistance, many organic dairies, particularly small organic dairies, will cease production, which not only impacts the domestic supply and consumption of organic milk but also the well-being of many rural communities across the country. This program will keep our small organic dairies in operation as they continue to weather a combination of challenges outside of their control.”
FSA will begin accepting applications for ODMAP on May 24. Eligible producers include certified organic dairy operations that produce milk from cows, goats and sheep.
Adam Warthesen, co-chair of the Organic Trade Association’s Organic Feedstuffs Relief Task Force, and senior director of government and industry affairs for Organic Valley said: “With unprecedented organic feed costs and inflationary pressures over the last couple of years, resources like ODMAP are really going to matter as farmers plan for the rest of this year.”
Britt Lundgren, senior director of sustainability and government affairs at Stonyfield, said: “The costs facing organic dairy today are uncommon and putting serious strain on operations. USDA is right to step in and offer support, and this is a good first step. The alternative is we lose family farmers. We look forward to working with USDA to cover more of the actual costs organic dairies are facing.”
Lia Sieler, executive director of Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, said: “We welcome the monetary resources allocated to dairy farmess through ODMAP with much anticipation. Input costs have been at an unprecedented high with no foreseeable changes and farmers are struggling to keep up with these high costs at their current pay price for the specialty products they produce. Farmers are struggling to continue producing a quality, safe and nutritious product with the current costs of doing business. We thank USDA with the help of many members of Congress for stepping in, hearing our voices and working diligently to get money pushed out as quick as possible to help alleviate some of this pain. Our work is not done, but this is a major win for our industry in a time of such uncertainty.”
Chris Adamo, vice president of public affairs and regenerative agriculture policy with Danone North America, said: “Recent increases to cost of feed and overall inputs have significantly impacted organic dairy farms, and on behalf of Horizon Organic, we are grateful for USDA’s thoughtful work and strong support for the farms that supply our customers’ milk.”
How ODMAP Works
FSA is providing financial assistance for a producer’s projected marketing cost in 2023 based on their 2022 costs. ODMAP provides a one-time cost-share payment based on marketing costs on pounds of organic milk marketed in the 2022 calendar year.
ODMAP provides financial assistance that will immediately support certified organic dairy operations during 2023 keeping organic dairy operations sustainable until markets return to more normal conditions.
How to Apply
FSA is accepting applications from May 24 to July 24. To apply, producers should contact FSA at their local USDA Service Center. To complete the ODMAP application, producers must certify to pounds of 2022 milk production, show documentation of their organic certification, and submit a completed application form.
Organic dairy operations are required to provide their USDA certification of organic status confirming operation as an organic dairy in 2023 and 2022 along with the certification of 2022 milk production in hundredweight.
ODMAP complements other assistance available to dairy producers, including Dairy Margin Coverage and Supplemental DMC, with more than $300 million in benefits paid for the 2023 program year to date. Learn more on the FSA Dairy Programs webpage
More Information
To learn more about USDA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and other programs by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.
May Brings American Cheese Month Celebration
American Cheese Month kicks off May 1. The annual event is a grassroots celebration of North America’s artisan and specialty cheeses and their makers and is organized by the American Cheese Education Foundation, the fundraising partner of the American Cheese Society.
Throughout the month of May, cheesemakers, dairy farmers, retailers, cheesemongers, and chefs highlight the diverse and delicious array of American cheeses and the community who bring them to the table.
In addition to spotlighting America’s robust cheese culture, the American Cheese Education Foundation, the American Cheese Society, and its members aim to:
• Recognize and raise awareness of the quality and diversity of American cheeses
• Support and promote great cheese, local foods, family farms, traditional methods, and sustainable production models
• Generate funding for education, scholarships, and research initiatives through the American Cheese Society
A large proportion of the funds raised during American Cheese Month goes to scholarships supporting ACS members to attend the annual industry conference. There, attendees including the scholarship recipients are able to enrich their professional experiences and cultivate industry connections in a sector still recovering from the effects of the pandemic.
“All the scholarship recipients really appreciated the funding support, especially those impacted economically by the pandemic over the past two years,” noted Tara Holmes, executive director of the ACS.
Cheese lovers and cheese industry professionals alike can help spread the love of American cheese
throughout the month in a variety of ways.
ACS member cheesemakers, retailers, and specialty food distributors are encouraged to donate a portion of their sales to ACEF.
Individuals can also easily donate funds to help build the cheese community’s future by clicking the ‘donate’ button. Any amount is welcome.
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Philadelphia Cream Cheese Debuts Tax-Free Bagel
New York City may be the bagel capital of the world, but its residents incur a ludicrous “bagel tax” each time they opt to purchase a bagel that’s sliced and schmeared with cream cheese. As a brand that has set the cream cheese standard for 150 years, Philadelphia believes that no one should have to pay an extra tax to experience its silky-smooth delight. To address the New York bagel tax head-on, the brand is taking the tax and stuffing it (literally) with the debut of the new, limited-edition Tax-Free Bagel – available nationwide through Tax Day, Tuesday, April 18.
Created in partnership with the iconic H&H Bagels in New York City – the renowned 50-year-old bagel shop fans across the country know and love – the Tax-Free Bagel is a full-sized, unsliced bagel filled with smooth, creamy Philly cream cheese. The elimination of the bagel’s slice and schmear circumvents the additional tax requirement, making fans’ favorite bagel and schmear all the more enjoyable.
“In today’s landscape, people are juggling enough hurdles, and having to pay an extra tax to enjoy their favorite bagel with Philly cream cheese should simply not be one of them,” said Keenan White, senior brand manager, Philadelphia at Kraft Heinz Company. “A bagel with Philly cream cheese is an experience that so many know and love, so in partnership with H&H bagels, we wanted to provide a delicious solution to this silly tax in a way that kept the enjoyment of our brand at its core, literally.s
The Tax-Free Bagel will be available locally in H&H Bagel’s Manhattan-based locations and for national delivery at HHBagels.com, giving New Yorkers and people coast-to-coast the opportunity to partake in stuffing this ridiculous tax while supplies last. The Tax-Free Bagel will be available in H&H Bagel’s three best-selling flavors of Plain, Everything and Cinnamon Raisin, all stuffed with Philly cream cheese for a rich and creamy taste and texture in each bite.
“We pride ourselves on being ‘like no other bagel in the world,’ and are thrilled to partner with Philly, a fellow category icon that is truly unlike any other cream cheese in the world,” said Jay Rushin, CEO, H&H Bagels. “We know first-hand that bagels and cream cheese are the perfect pairing and want to show appreciation for our fans’ continued support by introducing the Tax-Free Bagel – because we believe nobody should be taxed for the simple pleasure of an H&H bagel with Philly cream cheese.”
For more information on the Tax-Free Bagel and how to purchase, follow along on Philadelphia’s Instagram at @phillycreamchs.
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