News Releases

At its March board meeting, the FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative Board of Directors reviewed approved policies and identified this year’s top priorities: “Through our advocacy efforts over the years, FarmFirst has an established reputation in Washington, D.C. for representing dairy farmers in the Midwest. Working in stride with our industry partners ensures we get the message […]

FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative approves of the Senate’s confirmation of Katherine Tai as the new United States Trade Representative. “FarmFirst applauds Katherine Tai being recently confirmed as the new U.S. Trade Representative,” says Jeff Lyon, FarmFirst General Manager. “Tai’s experience and attention to detail on specific trade provisions will prove to be valuable as the U.S.

John Rettler of Neosho, Wis. was re-elected as president of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative at a recent FarmFirst board meeting following the cooperative’s ninth annual meeting, held virtually on February 12, 2021. Other officers re-elected were Steve Brock of Daggett, Mich. as vice-president, Kathy Bauer of Faribault, Minn. as secretary, and Wayne Gajewski of Athens, Wis.

FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative scholarships for 2021 are once again available to membership youth pursuing a post-secondary education. The scholarship application deadline is March 31, 2021. “Education is a cornerstone in the foundation of this cooperative,” says John Rettler, president of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative. “The cooperative remains committed to supporting our membership youth and their future.

FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative applauds the confirmation of Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture. “It is a welcoming sight to see the familiar face of Tom Vilsack returning to the helm of USDA. His prior experience serving as Secretary of Agriculture in addition to his leadership at the U.S. Dairy Export Council make him the ideal

FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative applauds the selection of Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) as Chair of the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. “Senator Baldwin has been a tireless advocate for rural America and dairy farmers in particular,” says Jeff Lyon, General Manager of FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative. “As the lead author

Dairy farmers joined FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative for a closer look at 2021 milk markets and explored dairy risk management options during the cooperative’s January 26th Dairy Risk Management webinar. Mark Stephenson, the director of dairy policy at UW-Madison, kicked off the webinar by sharing his outlook on the year ahead, while also addressing the turbulent

FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative is hosting a free dairy risk management webinar at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 26. This free webinar event is open to all dairy farmers, regardless of cooperative membership. The hour-long webinar will feature University of Wisconsin–Madison dairy economist Mark Stephenson, who will provide a dairy pricing forecast for 2021, and Travis

Statement from FarmFirst General Manager, Jeff Lyon “FarmFirst approves of the latest COVID-19 relief legislation passed today by Congress, helping provide comfort and reassurance, as there are many uncertainties ahead as the pandemic continues. FarmFirst greatly appreciates the priority placed to ensure U.S. dairy farmers continue to be part of the solution of providing nutritious