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Dear Friend,
We are only 20 days into the new year and so much is happening that will inevitably shape 2025 priorities.
First, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the wildfires in Los Angeles County and the losses there. My heart goes out to the communities impacted by the devastation. Since Gov. Newsom declared a state of emergency, firefighters have continued to work tirelessly to contain the fires. It’s also important to find hope in the county’s resilience.
Yesterday marked Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, giving us a chance to reflect on the country’s past and look to its future. We can see how far we have come but still how far we must go to realize Dr. King’s dream of equality and justice. In the wise words of Dr. King, “The time is always right to do what is right.”
January is also a very busy time of year for federal and state updates of importance to the dairy community. We look forward to providing timely updates throughout 2025 as we anticipate priority shifts and adjustments under the new federal administration.
Celebrating National Milk Day at Northgate Market
On Saturday, January 11, Dairy Council of California partnered with Northgate Market to celebrate National Milk Day with banana licuados (smoothies), nutrition education, raffles and FREE gallons of milk. This event was a fantastic opportunity to engage
the Hispanic community in Anaheim with meaningful dairy education and promote milk consumption. Check out this short video from our National Milk Day event.
FDA Proposed Rule on Front-of-Package Labeling SchemeOn the heels of the updated “healthy”claim, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released its proposed rule on a front-of-package nutrition labeling scheme, intended to provide consumers with quick and clear nutrition information. The proposed label would be a mandatory black-and-white interpretive label, required on the front of food packaging. It would focus on amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars, using “Low,” “Medium” or “High” indicators based on the percent Daily Value of each of these nutrients.
Share Your Voice: FDA is collecting public comments on the proposed rule until May 16, 2025. Instructions for submitting public comments can be found here.
FDA released its draft guidance for industry on the labeling of plant-based alternatives to animal-derived foods. The draft guidance advises plant-based alternative manufacturers to be specific in the labeling of their products by including the name of
the primary plant-based ingredient/ingredient mix. Manufacturers can use the name of animal-based products, like “cheese,” in the naming of the plant-based product, as long as they also name the main plant-based ingredients, such as “soy-based
cheddar cheese.” This guidance excludes plant-based milk alternatives, which will be addressed in separate guidance from the FDA.
Share Your Voice: The FDA is seeking input from the public on its information collection activities related to the guidance by March 10, 2025. More broadly, public comments on the draft
guidance will be accepted until May 7, 2025. Public comments can be submitted online or by mail. Visit the Federal Register website for instructions.
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) approved a definition for regenerative agriculture for use by state of California policies and programs. The adopted definition centers around the concept that regenerative agriculture is an integrated approach to farming and ranching rooted in principles of soil health, biodiversity and ecosystem resiliency, leading to improved target outcomes. The definition also reflects that this practice is not an end point but rather a continuous implementation of practices that over time minimize inputs and environmental impacts. For more information, visit the CDFA webpage on regenerative agriculture.
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State Vet Ban on California Poultry and Dairy Exhibitions at Fairs and ShowsTo address the ongoing spread of H5N1 bird flu in California, the California state veterinarian has issued an immediate ban on all poultry and dairy cattle exhibitions at fairs and shows until further notice.
This directive also affects Dairy Council of California’s Mobile Dairy Classroom assemblies, which will pause in-person activities until further notice. In response, alternatives will be offered, including virtual field trips and our video series, to support continued dairy agricultural education while prioritizing safety.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds producers, including dairy producers impacted by H5N1, that the deadline to apply for financial assistance through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program is Jan. 30, 2025, for losses that occurred in 2024. For more information click here.
USDA announced the 2025 enrollment periods for key safety-net programs: Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC), as well as Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC). Agricultural producers can submit applications to USDA’s Farm Service Agency for ARC and PLC for the 2025 crop year from Jan. 21 to April 15 and for DMC for the 2025 coverage year from Jan. 29 to March 31. ARC and PLC provide financial protections to farmers from substantial drops in crop prices or revenues and are vital economic safety nets for most American farms. DMC provides producers with price support to help offset milk and feed price differences. More information can be found here.
Best Regards,
Amy DeLisio, CEO
Dairy Council of California
[email protected]