Wisconsin farmer files discrimination lawsuit

A Wisconsin dairy farmer is behind a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration. Adam Faust claims the government is discriminating against white farmers. The lawsuit cites the Dairy Margin Coverage program, where he is charged a $100 administrative fee, but that is waived for minority and female farmers. Faust’s U.S. Department of Agriculture loans are guaranteed to 90% of value, while minority farmers have a 95% guarantee. His manure storage system qualifies for a USDA conservation program, with 75% of his costs eligible for reimbursement. Ninety percent of the same costs can be reimbursed for minority farmers. Faust claims these rules put him at a competitive disadvantage. Faust was part of a similar lawsuit in 2021 regarding the USDA loan forgiveness program.

Trump to issue an executive order to protect ag workforce 

Despite the crackdown on immigration, President Donald Trump plans to issue an order to protect the farm workforce. In response to a reporter’s question, Trump said farmers are being hurt badly: “We have to do something about that; we can’t take all their people and send them back because they don’t have maybe what they’re supposed to have.” Trump also addressed the ag labor issue on Truth Social. “Our great farmers and people in the hotel and leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long-time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,” he wrote. Agriculture is heavily reliant on immigrant labor. If these workers are not in the barns and the fields, American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said, there is a risk of supply chain disruptions similar to what occurred during the pandemic.

Peterson sees trouble for farm bill 

Former House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson voiced skepticism about the path forward for the next farm bill, warning that political gridlock could stall the legislation. Speaking at the Midwest Ag Summit in West Fargo, Peterson said disagreements over non-ag provisions are overshadowing core farm policy. “I’d say September at the earliest,” Peterson said, “and I think there’s a possibility this may fail, not over farm policy, but the SALT (State and Local Tax deduction) thing, for example.” Peterson pointed to resistance from lawmakers in states like New York who have taken strong positions on unrelated tax provisions, adding that debate in the agriculture committees has been effectively shut down.

Whole milk bill passes ag committee

The Senate Agriculture Committee has passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Since 2012, only skim and low-fat milk have been available in schools. This bill would allow schools to include whole milk, 2% and flavored milks in school breakfast and lunch menus. It also includes the option of non-dairy alternatives. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar praised this bill but criticized the proposed “big, beautiful bill.” “While I’m glad we’re moving forward on this bill (Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act) in front of us, I hope that we’re not going to rush headlong into ill-conceived and poorly planned policies when we have the ability to work together on a farm bill moving forward,” Klobuchar said. The Minnesota senator went on to criticize the budget reconciliation bill and its $300 billion cut in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding; the legislation “affect kids, our farmers, and our local grocery stores in a big way, as well as the states we represent who can’t take this cost shift; it will forever change the way if we can ever do a farm bill again.”

Budget cuts sought at USDA 

The Trump administration’s budget request for the 2026 fiscal year seeks $23 billion for agriculture department spending. That’s a $7 billion hit from this year’s budget. The biggest headlines have been related to food stamps, with projected spending down nearly $300 million from last year. However, traditional agriculture spending also takes a hit. The budget plan would cut the Farm Service Agency spending by $372 million. For the Natural Resources Conservation Service, spending would be down more than $800 million.

June supply and demand numbers released

In the June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, the milk production forecast was increased for this year and next. For 2025 and 2026, the commercial dairy export forecast rose. It was helped by competitively priced butter exports and higher cheese and fluid product exports. The import forecast was also raised. The all-milk price forecast for 2026 is $21.30 per hundredweight. The 2026 Class III price is projected to be $17.80 per hundredweight.

Rabobank dairy outlook

Rabobank reports modest milk production growth across major exporting countries, including the U.S., with first-quarter output up 0.5% year-over-year. For 2025, Rabobank forecasts total milk production from the big seven exporters at 326.7 million metric tons, a 1% increase and the largest annual gain since 2020. Despite the production boost, demand concerns are rising. Rabobank says low U.S. consumer confidence, economic issues in China and weaker restaurant and packaged food sales are putting pressure on the market.

New dairy export program to launch July 1 

The National Milk Producers Federation board of directors voted to implement a new member-funded export assistance program called NEXT (NMPF Exports and Trade). This is the successor organization to the Cooperatives Working Together or CWT program. NMPF members will support NEXT with a 2-cent per hundredweight contribution through 2028. The NEXT program will focus on expanding U.S. dairy exports worldwide, including Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Brazil lifts U.S. whey protein concentrate suspension

The Brazilian agriculture ministry has officially lifted its suspension of the U.S. dairy company, Agropur, from exporting whey protein concentrate powder to Brazil. On May 22, the ag ministry suspended one Agropur due to lab results showing protein levels below 80%. After quick action by the Foreign Agricultural Service and Agricultural Marketing Service to address the irregularities, Brazil agreed to lift the suspension less than three weeks after it was imposed. Last year, the U.S. exported $83 million of whey protein concentrate powder to Brazil.

Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin election results announced

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has certified the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin election results. The DFW board now includes Gary Kohn of Medford, Alexandra Straschinske of Boyd, Jeff Betley of Pulaski, Stephanie Ann Hughes of Pittsville, Sandra Madland of Lyndon Station, Rick Roden of West Bend, Chad A. Sime of Gays Mills and Virgil Haag of Mount Horeb. These individuals will serve three-year terms.

State FFA president elected

The new president of Wisconsin FFA is Amalia Draxler of Glenwood City. Draxler is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, seeking a degree in agricultural and applied economics.

Stars Over Wisconsin

During the Wisconsin State FFA Convention, individuals received the Stars Over Wisconsin award. The Star in Agribusiness is Ashton Brusveen of Friendship FFA. The Star in Agriscience is Jordan Berg of Granton FFA, and the Star Farmer is McKinley Krueger of Campbellsport FFA.

Select Sires hires new communications lead

Patti Hurtgen is the new manager of communications for Select Sires member services. For the past 15 years, Hurtgen has been with Hoard’s Dairyman. 

Trivia challenge

National Ice Cream Day is the third Sunday in July. That answers our last trivia question. For this week’s trivia, who was the first president to proclaim the observance of National Ice Cream Day? We’ll have the answer in our next edition of the Dairy Star.

Don Wick is owner/broadcaster for the Red River Farm Network of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Wick has been recognized as the National Farm Broadcaster of the Year and served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasting. Don and his wife, Kolleen, have two sons, Tony and Sam, and five grandchildren, Aiden, Piper, Adrienne, Aurora and Sterling.