Greetings, Defenders!
Summer is a busy time for everyone, but especially for people tending plants and animals as they strive to sustain themselves and their communities. We assume that you are also watching the multiple storms around us, whether brought by the weather or by political maneuverings.
This newsletter features some recent FFD member publications, film reviews, web resources, and a recap of several activities over the past two months. The print newsletter should be mailed soon and we expect to post another podcast in a couple of weeks.
We hope that you enjoy and share our news!
June is known as National Dairy Month. First promoted in 1937, before many farms had electricity, the purpose was to encourage people to drink more milk in the hot summer months when cows were grazing on pasture producing plenty of milk.
Today, this designation is used by the dairy industry to promote a range of products with only a token nod to the hard-working dairy farmer. Family Farm Defenders has long highlighted the root causes of the loss of family dairy farms and the detrimental impact this loss has on farm families, communities, and the environment.
Our policy advocacy, writings, and educational activities illustrate the devastating impact of low prices that farmers receive, the consolidation of processing facilities, and the inequitable and unreasonable incentives given to mega-dairies.
Manure digesters are just one example of these incentives. Family Farm Defenders’ Executive Director, John Peck, states in Manure Digesters – Just another False Solution that makes Climate Injustice Worse: “Billions in taxpayer handouts and other incentives through pollution offset trading markets are encouraging factory farms to expand and profit from their waste stream.”
FFD Board President Patti Naylor detailed local and state incentives in her blog, “Iowa could lead the way to transform our agriculture system – beginning with dairy farms”.
We encourage people to know the source of their food, including their milk. At the website “Where is my milk from?”, you can enter a code printed on the milk jug in your refrigerator. You might be surprised to learn just how far your milk has traveled.
Recent Publications from FFD Board Members
“For June Dairy Month, Trump Should Celebrate the Canadian System, Not Denounce” by Jim Goodman and Anthony Pahnke, June 18, 2025
“Trump’s Trade Deals Endanger Farmers and Our Food System” by Anthony Pahnke, May 16, 2025, Common Dreams
“Enbridge Line 5: A Clear and Present Danger” by Jim Goodman, June 11, 2025, Wisconsin Examiner
“Farmers Protest Unjust Immigration System” by Anthony Pahnke, June 20, 2025
| Closing Thought: Movie & Media Recommendations from the FFD Board |
| Movie Recommendation: Green and Gold is about a fourth-generation Wisconsin farmer about to lose his farm to the bank. His grown granddaughter, Jenny (Madison Lawlor) struggles with her music career and expectations of owning the farm. They bond through “The Pack” when Buck places a bet on the Green Bay Packers to win the 1993 Super Bowl in order to avoid foreclosure. Brothers David and Anders Lindwall, who produced the film, grew up north of Green Bay as grandsons of a dairy farmer and die-hard Packer fans. They say they poured their hearts into the film, filmed in Door County and Green Bay, as a tribute to small-town communities and the values they represent. Available to rent online. Movie Recommendation: The Price of Milk recently premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. The documentary features interviews with a number of dairy farmers, including longtime FFD members Sarah Lloyd and Brenda and Joe Cochran who discuss the situations that have led to and the ramifications of low milk prices in the US. Read more about the documentary or request a screening at https://www.priceofmilk.com/. Podcast Recommendation: Mondays with the Milkweed is a series of interviews produced by longtime FFD members Pete Hardin (editor of the MIlkweed – one of the best newspapers covering the dairy industry) and Bert Zipperer on WORT Community Radio 89.9 FM. Topics include President Trump’s tariffs, real vs fake cheese, factors affecting dairy pricing, and bird flu, among others.News Source Recommendation: Civil Eats ICE Raid Tracker is keeping track of immigration enforcement actions at workplaces. This tracker is updated periodically, a great resource during this uncertain moment. |
