Workingyoufor

The vo ice o f mi lk .

2763 Manitowoc Rd, Ste B • Green Bay, WI 54311

920.883.0020 | voiceofmilk.com

920.883.0020 | voiceofmilk.com

The vo ice o f mi lk .

The voice of milk.DECEMBER STATS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monthly Milk:

Total Members:

756

Total Cows:

363,726

millionpounds 846

MARCH 14-15PDPW Business ConferenceMadison, Wis.

MARCH 21Agri-Pulse Food and Policy SummitWashington, D.C.

MARCH 27-29WPS Farm ShowOshkosh, Wis.

MARCH 27-29Central Plains Dairy ExpoSioux Falls, S.D.

APRIL 10-12Dairy Calf & Heifer Association ConferenceMilwaukee, Wis.

APRIL 17Are you down with MPP? Fixing the Margin Protection ProgramWebinar

MAY 1Edge scholarship application postmark deadline

Greetings,

It was nice seeing so many of our members at the recent Dairy Strong conference and our Edge annual meeting. The feedback we have received has been very positive and appreciative of Edge’s support of the event.

Even with the economic pressures facing dairy farmers today, the attendees were upbeat and positive. As one farmer said, “It’s just another set of challenges I will face and deal with as I have several times in the past. I will find ways to lower costs and manage toward greater efficiencies.”

I realize that sounds easy, but it’s not, of course. However, the attitude of how to approach a challenge is spot on. That same attitude is how Edge is advancing our federal policy initiatives. We must admit to the realities of the world marketplace and be persistent in the pursuit of strong and stable markets.

At Edge’s annual meeting, our federal policy team shared details about the dynamics within Washington, D.C. The common theme was the need for farmer engagement on the issues. In March, a delegation of Edge members will take to the halls of Congress to advance our agenda and to make sure your voice is heard.

Farmers are the most believable, authentic and trusted source in D.C. In a sea of lobbyists, it’s refreshing to see famers collaborating with lawmakers and providing practical solutions for complex problems. Stay tuned for updates and know that your voice will be heard.

My best, Tim

Tim Trotter,executive director

Letter From LeadershipD.C. update

G o v e r n m e n t funding: On Feb. 9, and after a brief govern-ment shutdown, the House and Senate approved a two-year bud-get deal (setting topline numbers through Sept. 30, 2019) that also extended gov-

ernment funding at current levels through March 23.

It adds about $300 billion in spending for defense and non-defense programs. President Trump backed the deal and signed it into law. Among other things, this bill includes disaster assistance provisions for farmers impacted by recent hurricanes and wildfires. It also makes cotton growers eligible for Title 1 programs, lifts the $20 million annual cap for Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) policies, and makes improvements to the Margin Protection Program (MPP).

Inside

Our processors: our partners ..............2

Connecting with customers ..............3

Edge offers scholarships .......................3

February 2018

We must admit to the realities of the world marketplace and be

persistent in the pursuit of strong and

stable markets.

continued on page 2

Sarah Hubbart, director, Michael Torrey Associates

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

In the past, the r e l a t i o n s h i p between dairy farmers and dairy processors has not been the best. Farmers may have viewed the processors with distrust and

both groups may have been alienated by the other’s views on pricing and competition.

Throughout the dairy community, these old divides are being broken down. National Milk Producers Fed-eration and the processor group In-ternational Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) have agreed on a common plat-form for the upcom-ing farm bill negotia-tions. This is a first for these groups, which in the past have been bitterly divided over certain farm policies.

Edge is a young co-operative. Unlike oth-ers, we are not sad-dled with decades of baggage from past legislative fights. We were formed by progressive dairy farmers who under-stand that innovation, technology and competitiveness are the best ways forward. That being the case, we nev-er had a negative relationship with the processing community.

Instead, we have worked with cheesemakers and others to advance our shared agenda. During the fight over supply management in the last farm bill, Edge and other progressive dairy farmer groups worked with our processors to end the government-orchestrated program. Now, the same groups are discussing how the free market and farmer- or processor-led initiatives can help with supply issues.

Looking at our top legislative priorities,

we know that processors are with us. They want meaningful changes to our immigration system that would provide farmers with a sustainable workforce as many of them also face labor concerns. They want to promote better access to foreign markets and share our concern that the North American Free Trade Agreement be improved, not abandoned. They also want to see a farm bill that promotes farmers’ financial well-being. They understand the challenging times our farmers are facing because of low commodity prices. They know they cannot be successful long term without farmers’ long-term success.

In January, a group from Edge attended IDFA’s annual Dai r y Forum, the primary annual meeting of dairy processors and allied business people. We had the chance to catch up with processors from throughout the Midwest. These are old friends and trusted allies. We also sat down for meetings with two

large dairy processors for the first time to talk about how we could work together more effectively. Our goals may not always overlap, but where they do, we want to build on those relationships.

Edge will take a group of members to Washington, D.C., in March to meet with elected officials to talk about dairy farmer priorities. This trip will also give us the chance to reconnect with the same companies we met with at Dairy Forum. Together with processors, Edge is dedicated to improving the conditions for the dairy community.

Many of the fights ahead of us are significant, and dairy farmers can use all the support they can get.

Our processors, our partners

John Holevoet, director of government affairs

NEED TO KNOW

By Lauren Brey, director of marketing and research

The agricultural community continues to work toward connecting with our customers and ensuring they have accurate information about how food is grown and raised.

Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), uses the term “belief spectrum” when explaining people’s assessment of what makes food information credible.

The assessment is shaped by their relationship to the truth, said Arnot, who recently shared findings from research on the topic.

He defined five types of people on this spectrum: scientific, philosopher, follower, wishful thinker and existentialist.

Followers are a group that we have an opportunity to influence because they are looking for guidance on what they can and can’t do. They are worried about doing something wrong or jeopardizing the health and well-being of their families.

“Most importantly, they listen to advice that is simple to understand and that feels right – because it’s ethically or morally the right thing to do,” Arnot said.

So, what does this mean to the agricultural community?

Use these inputs to make the information you are sharing relatable to a follower:

• Use a source who is knowledgeable about the subject yet easy to understand.

• Clearly tell the followers what they should do given their situation.

• Relate to them – share your similar responsibilities (family, community, etc.).

• Give ethically and/or morally sound advice – followers like guidance that feels like the right thing to do.

Messages should be ethically led and scientifically backed. Use this as an opportunity to leverage other parents, farmers, wives and husbands to deliver ethically rational arguments.

Outputs the ag community needs to deliver to help our messages be heard:

• Information that is simple and easy to understand.

• Arguments they can visualize.

• How-to or what-to-do.

• The comfort of knowing that they are doing the right thing (permission to believe).

According to the CFI research, there is a three-step formula for evolving the beliefs of followers:

• The messenger needs to be an expert followers trust. (Relatability + shared values + competency)

• The message should be unambiguous and deliver a simple solution.

• The message should address a specific vulnerability of the follower. This group fears they will miss something or do the wrong thing and jeopardize the health of themselves or their families.

Try using these strategies the next time you are working on a presentation, creating posts for social media or preparing for a farm tour.

The Center for Food Integrity is a non-profit organization dedicated to making sure customers have the balanced information they need to make informed choices.

Immigration: Notably, the budget deal did not address the rapidly approaching March 5 deadline for the expiring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Senate Democrats ultimately supported the deal after receiving a commitment from Leader Mitch McConnell that the Senate would bring up a bipartisan immigration reform bill that includes a legislative solution for DACA. Debate began the week of Feb. 13 on compromise legislation that is supported by the White House. It is unclear if the proposal will attract the 60 votes needed for passage or how the House would respond.

President’s budget: President Trump’s FY2019 budget request was released on Feb. 12. While non-binding, this provides a look at the White House’s priorities. Just like last year, the president’s budget includes cuts to USDA, this time to the tune of $47 billion for farm programs and $214 billion for the SNAP program, also known as food stamps, over 10 years. However, it would ultimately add $3 trillion in deficit spending over the next decade. The president’s budget was widely criticized by agriculture stakeholders. The House and Senate Agriculture Committee chairmen issued a joint statement saying they are “committed to maintaining a strong safety net for agricultural producers” and that the president’s budget would not prevent them from producing a farm bill that benefits farmers and consumers.

Farm bill: The current farm bill expires on Sept. 30. Both the House and Senate Agriculture committees have indicated interest in moving their bills in March, but draft text has yet to be seen. The inclusion of the cotton and dairy fixes in the budget deal could pave the way for smoother farm bill negotiations because it potentially frees up some funding baseline to use for other programs.

Connecting with customers: What makes food information credible?

D.C. updatecontinued from page 1

We were formed by progressive dairy

farmers who understand that

innovation, technology and

competitiveness are the best ways

forward.

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative is looking to award two, $1,000 college scholarships to children of its members.

Applicants must be high school seniors, high school graduates or college undergraduates enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time course of study at an accredited four-year college or university or a two-year program at a technical, junior or community college. The area of

study does not need to be in agriculture, but preference may be given to students pursing a degree in an agricultural field.

Only dependents of Edge members qualify.

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on academic achievement, leadership, participation in school and community activities, academic honors,

goals and aspirations, recommendations and work experience.

The application with full guidelines is available at voiceofmilk.com. Applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2018.

For more information, contact Lauren Brey at 920-883-0020 ext. 107 or lbrey@voiceofmilk.com.

Edge offers scholarshipsBy Lauren Brey, director of marketing and research

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

In the past, the r e l a t i o n s h i p between dairy farmers and dairy processors has not been the best. Farmers may have viewed the processors with distrust and

both groups may have been alienated by the other’s views on pricing and competition.

Throughout the dairy community, these old divides are being broken down. National Milk Producers Fed-eration and the processor group In-ternational Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) have agreed on a common plat-form for the upcom-ing farm bill negotia-tions. This is a first for these groups, which in the past have been bitterly divided over certain farm policies.

Edge is a young co-operative. Unlike oth-ers, we are not sad-dled with decades of baggage from past legislative fights. We were formed by progressive dairy farmers who under-stand that innovation, technology and competitiveness are the best ways forward. That being the case, we nev-er had a negative relationship with the processing community.

Instead, we have worked with cheesemakers and others to advance our shared agenda. During the fight over supply management in the last farm bill, Edge and other progressive dairy farmer groups worked with our processors to end the government-orchestrated program. Now, the same groups are discussing how the free market and farmer- or processor-led initiatives can help with supply issues.

Looking at our top legislative priorities,

we know that processors are with us. They want meaningful changes to our immigration system that would provide farmers with a sustainable workforce as many of them also face labor concerns. They want to promote better access to foreign markets and share our concern that the North American Free Trade Agreement be improved, not abandoned. They also want to see a farm bill that promotes farmers’ financial well-being. They understand the challenging times our farmers are facing because of low commodity prices. They know they cannot be successful long term without farmers’ long-term success.

In January, a group from Edge attended IDFA’s annual Dai r y Forum, the primary annual meeting of dairy processors and allied business people. We had the chance to catch up with processors from throughout the Midwest. These are old friends and trusted allies. We also sat down for meetings with two

large dairy processors for the first time to talk about how we could work together more effectively. Our goals may not always overlap, but where they do, we want to build on those relationships.

Edge will take a group of members to Washington, D.C., in March to meet with elected officials to talk about dairy farmer priorities. This trip will also give us the chance to reconnect with the same companies we met with at Dairy Forum. Together with processors, Edge is dedicated to improving the conditions for the dairy community.

Many of the fights ahead of us are significant, and dairy farmers can use all the support they can get.

Our processors, our partners

John Holevoet, director of government affairs

NEED TO KNOW

By Lauren Brey, director of marketing and research

The agricultural community continues to work toward connecting with our customers and ensuring they have accurate information about how food is grown and raised.

Charlie Arnot, CEO of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), uses the term “belief spectrum” when explaining people’s assessment of what makes food information credible.

The assessment is shaped by their relationship to the truth, said Arnot, who recently shared findings from research on the topic.

He defined five types of people on this spectrum: scientific, philosopher, follower, wishful thinker and existentialist.

Followers are a group that we have an opportunity to influence because they are looking for guidance on what they can and can’t do. They are worried about doing something wrong or jeopardizing the health and well-being of their families.

“Most importantly, they listen to advice that is simple to understand and that feels right – because it’s ethically or morally the right thing to do,” Arnot said.

So, what does this mean to the agricultural community?

Use these inputs to make the information you are sharing relatable to a follower:

• Use a source who is knowledgeable about the subject yet easy to understand.

• Clearly tell the followers what they should do given their situation.

• Relate to them – share your similar responsibilities (family, community, etc.).

• Give ethically and/or morally sound advice – followers like guidance that feels like the right thing to do.

Messages should be ethically led and scientifically backed. Use this as an opportunity to leverage other parents, farmers, wives and husbands to deliver ethically rational arguments.

Outputs the ag community needs to deliver to help our messages be heard:

• Information that is simple and easy to understand.

• Arguments they can visualize.

• How-to or what-to-do.

• The comfort of knowing that they are doing the right thing (permission to believe).

According to the CFI research, there is a three-step formula for evolving the beliefs of followers:

• The messenger needs to be an expert followers trust. (Relatability + shared values + competency)

• The message should be unambiguous and deliver a simple solution.

• The message should address a specific vulnerability of the follower. This group fears they will miss something or do the wrong thing and jeopardize the health of themselves or their families.

Try using these strategies the next time you are working on a presentation, creating posts for social media or preparing for a farm tour.

The Center for Food Integrity is a non-profit organization dedicated to making sure customers have the balanced information they need to make informed choices.

Immigration: Notably, the budget deal did not address the rapidly approaching March 5 deadline for the expiring Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Senate Democrats ultimately supported the deal after receiving a commitment from Leader Mitch McConnell that the Senate would bring up a bipartisan immigration reform bill that includes a legislative solution for DACA. Debate began the week of Feb. 13 on compromise legislation that is supported by the White House. It is unclear if the proposal will attract the 60 votes needed for passage or how the House would respond.

President’s budget: President Trump’s FY2019 budget request was released on Feb. 12. While non-binding, this provides a look at the White House’s priorities. Just like last year, the president’s budget includes cuts to USDA, this time to the tune of $47 billion for farm programs and $214 billion for the SNAP program, also known as food stamps, over 10 years. However, it would ultimately add $3 trillion in deficit spending over the next decade. The president’s budget was widely criticized by agriculture stakeholders. The House and Senate Agriculture Committee chairmen issued a joint statement saying they are “committed to maintaining a strong safety net for agricultural producers” and that the president’s budget would not prevent them from producing a farm bill that benefits farmers and consumers.

Farm bill: The current farm bill expires on Sept. 30. Both the House and Senate Agriculture committees have indicated interest in moving their bills in March, but draft text has yet to be seen. The inclusion of the cotton and dairy fixes in the budget deal could pave the way for smoother farm bill negotiations because it potentially frees up some funding baseline to use for other programs.

Connecting with customers: What makes food information credible?

D.C. updatecontinued from page 1

We were formed by progressive dairy

farmers who understand that

innovation, technology and

competitiveness are the best ways

forward.

Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative is looking to award two, $1,000 college scholarships to children of its members.

Applicants must be high school seniors, high school graduates or college undergraduates enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time course of study at an accredited four-year college or university or a two-year program at a technical, junior or community college. The area of

study does not need to be in agriculture, but preference may be given to students pursing a degree in an agricultural field.

Only dependents of Edge members qualify.

Scholarship recipients will be selected based on academic achievement, leadership, participation in school and community activities, academic honors,

goals and aspirations, recommendations and work experience.

The application with full guidelines is available at voiceofmilk.com. Applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2018.

For more information, contact Lauren Brey at 920-883-0020 ext. 107 or lbrey@voiceofmilk.com.

Edge offers scholarshipsBy Lauren Brey, director of marketing and research

Workingyoufor

The vo ice o f mi lk .

2763 Manitowoc Rd, Ste B • Green Bay, WI 54311

920.883.0020 | voiceofmilk.com

920.883.0020 | voiceofmilk.com

The vo ice o f mi lk .

The voice of milk.DECEMBER STATS

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monthly Milk:

Total Members:

756

Total Cows:

363,726

millionpounds 846

MARCH 14-15PDPW Business ConferenceMadison, Wis.

MARCH 21Agri-Pulse Food and Policy SummitWashington, D.C.

MARCH 27-29WPS Farm ShowOshkosh, Wis.

MARCH 27-29Central Plains Dairy ExpoSioux Falls, S.D.

APRIL 10-12Dairy Calf & Heifer Association ConferenceMilwaukee, Wis.

APRIL 17Are you down with MPP? Fixing the Margin Protection ProgramWebinar

MAY 1Edge scholarship application postmark deadline

Greetings,

It was nice seeing so many of our members at the recent Dairy Strong conference and our Edge annual meeting. The feedback we have received has been very positive and appreciative of Edge’s support of the event.

Even with the economic pressures facing dairy farmers today, the attendees were upbeat and positive. As one farmer said, “It’s just another set of challenges I will face and deal with as I have several times in the past. I will find ways to lower costs and manage toward greater efficiencies.”

I realize that sounds easy, but it’s not, of course. However, the attitude of how to approach a challenge is spot on. That same attitude is how Edge is advancing our federal policy initiatives. We must admit to the realities of the world marketplace and be persistent in the pursuit of strong and stable markets.

At Edge’s annual meeting, our federal policy team shared details about the dynamics within Washington, D.C. The common theme was the need for farmer engagement on the issues. In March, a delegation of Edge members will take to the halls of Congress to advance our agenda and to make sure your voice is heard.

Farmers are the most believable, authentic and trusted source in D.C. In a sea of lobbyists, it’s refreshing to see famers collaborating with lawmakers and providing practical solutions for complex problems. Stay tuned for updates and know that your voice will be heard.

My best, Tim

Tim Trotter,executive director

Letter From LeadershipD.C. update

G o v e r n m e n t funding: On Feb. 9, and after a brief govern-ment shutdown, the House and Senate approved a two-year bud-get deal (setting topline numbers through Sept. 30, 2019) that also extended gov-

ernment funding at current levels through March 23.

It adds about $300 billion in spending for defense and non-defense programs. President Trump backed the deal and signed it into law. Among other things, this bill includes disaster assistance provisions for farmers impacted by recent hurricanes and wildfires. It also makes cotton growers eligible for Title 1 programs, lifts the $20 million annual cap for Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) policies, and makes improvements to the Margin Protection Program (MPP).

Inside

Our processors: our partners ..............2

Connecting with customers ..............3

Edge offers scholarships .......................3

February 2018

We must admit to the realities of the world marketplace and be

persistent in the pursuit of strong and

stable markets.

continued on page 2

Sarah Hubbart, director, Michael Torrey Associates