U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins used a keynote address at the National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) annual meeting on Tuesday to promote the Trump administration’s dairy strategy, telling industry leaders that federal efforts are aimed at bolstering producers during a period of sustained economic and labour pressure within the sector.
Speaking to an audience of roughly 750 farmers, cooperative executives and dairy professionals in Arlington, Va., Rollins said the administration’s milk action plan represents a renewed focus on strengthening an industry that has faced persistent market volatility, rising input costs and structural labour shortages. Her remarks came during the Joint Annual Meeting hosted by NMPF, the United Dairy Board and the United Dairy Industry Association—one of the largest gatherings of dairy producers and processors in the United States.
“I want to be very clear. We will never stop fighting for those of you in the dairy industry and across rural America we have reached that golden age for our producers,” Rollins said. “Dairy farmers have delivered for America for 250 years, and now it’s time for us to deliver for you.”
Rollins outlined a four-point framework that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is using to guide its dairy policy agenda. The initiatives include encouraging higher dairy consumption through upcoming changes to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans—expected by early January—reducing on-farm input costs, facilitating investment in domestic milk processing capacity and expanding market opportunities for American dairy products abroad.
The meeting comes at a consequential time for the industry. U.S. dairy exports have grown significantly over the past decade, but producers continue to contend with labour challenges that have strained operations of all sizes. Rollins acknowledged that farm-labour reform remains one of the most difficult and politically charged issues facing agriculture. She emphasized that while some regulatory improvements can be made between federal agencies, more comprehensive changes require legislative action.
“We are acutely aware of the unique labor needs of the dairy industry,” she said, noting that USDA is working with the Departments of Labor and Homeland Security in an effort to ease regulatory barriers.
Rollins’s appearance also marked her first major address to the dairy sector since becoming the 33rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture earlier this year. Before joining USDA, she served as Founder, President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. Her experience within the Trump administration includes roles as Director of the Domestic Policy Council, Assistant to the President for Strategic Initiatives and Director of the Office of American Innovation—positions in which she helped guide the administration’s domestic policy portfolio.
Her keynote helped launch a full day of programming at the NMPF conference, which continues to serve as a platform for debate on policy priorities that could shape the industry in the years ahead. Discussions included the economic outlook for milk markets, efforts to pass the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, and proposals to develop long-term labour solutions tailored to dairy operations, many of which require year-round workers unavailable through the current H-2A seasonal visa program.
NMPF, the largest dairy farmer organization in the United States, has advocated for several of the initiatives highlighted in Rollins’s remarks. The group has long emphasized the need to modernize federal dietary guidelines, improve processing capacity to support domestic demand and export growth, and address structural labour shortages that affect farms nationwide.
The conference also featured remarks from several NMPF leaders, including immediate past chairman Randy Mooney, newly elected chairman Brian Rexing, and President and CEO Gregg Doud. Their comments underscored ongoing concerns about market stability, consolidation within the industry and the importance of federal policy consistency as producers navigate shifting global conditions.
In addition to policy discussions, the meeting highlighted industry achievements and recognized producer excellence. A luncheon showcased award presentations from the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program and NMPF communications. The FARM Program, widely adopted across the U.S. dairy sector, sets animal-care, environmental and workforce-development benchmarks that help producers demonstrate compliance with evolving consumer and regulatory expectations.
The day’s events were scheduled to conclude with a reception featuring top-performing cheeses from NMPF’s annual cheese contest, offering attendees a chance to network while highlighting the product innovations and quality improvements that continue to drive growth in both domestic and export markets.
As federal officials and industry leaders navigate policy pressures and shifting consumption trends, Rollins’s message signalled continued support for dairy producers at the national level. For many in attendance, the administration’s milk action plan—and its promise to address both economic and labour challenges—served as a focal point for broader conversations about the long-term resilience of the North American dairy sector.
