Dairy Farmers Take Their Voices to Capitol Hill in Annual Fly-in
There is something powerful about a farmer who steps away from the milking parlor, puts on a clean shirt, and walks the marble halls of Congress to speak up for the way of life they love. That is exactly what happened this week as more than 80 board members and young dairy farmers from the National Milk Producers Federation traveled to Washington for the organization’s annual fly-in, meeting with roughly 100 congressional offices to make sure dairy’s voice was heard loud and clear.
The farmers came to the Capitol carrying a list of concerns that hit close to home for anyone working the land. At the top of that list was agricultural labor, an issue that keeps many producers up at night, along with the recent return of New World screwworm to the United States, a pest that has the livestock community paying close attention. These are not abstract policy debates for the men and women who made the trip. They are daily realities that shape whether a family operation thrives or simply survives.
The fly-in followed NMPF’s June board meeting, which featured remarks from Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Stephen Vaden and Ambassador Julie Callahan. Both offered perspective on the agriculture economy and the ever-shifting trade landscape, giving producers a clearer picture of the forces at work beyond the farm gate.
NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud set the tone before the farmers fanned out across the Hill. “We know what we need to do,” Doud said. “We will push in every way we can to make things happen.” It was a fitting message for a group that understands persistence is the heart of farming itself.
Beyond labor and animal health, the dairy farmers pressed lawmakers on several priorities that matter to producers and consumers alike. They called for passing a farm bill through the full Congress in 2026, a piece of legislation that provides the safety net so many operations depend on. They urged that all types of milk remain available in school meal programs, making sure children continue to have access to the nutrition that dairy provides. They advocated for passing the DAIRY PRIDE Act to ensure integrity in milk labeling, so that the word milk continues to mean what families have always trusted it to mean. And they encouraged lawmakers to press the administration to strengthen dairy provisions while renewing the USMCA trade agreement, keeping export markets healthy for American milk.
The gathering also marked a moment of growth for the organization. NMPF welcomed a new board member, Ted Vander Schaaf of Northwest Dairy Association and Darigold, along with a new associate member, the Illinois Farm Bureau. Each new face represents another voice committed to keeping the dairy industry strong for the generations still to come.
Fittingly, the fly-in was organized by NMPF’s Young Cooperators program, a reminder that the future of dairy rests in the hands of those just beginning their journey in agriculture. Alongside the meetings on the Hill, the organization held committee sessions and even hosted a workshop on Artificial Intelligence for cooperative executives, a sign that dairy leaders are keeping one eye on tradition and the other on tomorrow’s tools. As the week continued, NMPF leadership turned its attention to animal health, well-being, and other important industry topics.
For the families who pour their hearts into producing the milk that nourishes the nation, this kind of advocacy is more than a trip to Washington. It is an act of stewardship, a way of protecting the land and the livelihood they hope to pass down to their own sons and daughters one day.
To learn more about this advocacy effort and the issues facing dairy producers, visit the National Milk Producers Federation online at www.nmpf.org.