Seen & Herd WUD

S4E36: “Deciphering California’s Regulatory Acronym Jungle" | with Paul Sousa

The Skim:

In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Allison Tristao interviews Paul Sousa, the Director of Environmental Services for Western United Dairies. Here's a summary of the key points discussed:

05:00 - **Low-Use Truck Regulations**: Paul emphasizes the importance of responding promptly to California Air Resources Board (ARB) letters auditing mileage on low-use exemption trucks to avoid fines.

06:50 - **NEW Clean Truck Check**: Paul discusses the introduction of a quarterly smog check for trucks with a 14,000 GVWR and greater and the associated registration requirements, fees, and training for compliance.

https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/CTC

08:25 - **Low Carbon Fuel Standards (LCFS) 2023 Proposed Amendments**: Paul outlines proposed changes in LCFS, including an increase in the carbon intensity reduction target to 30% by 2030, potential impacts on dairy biomethane, and the phasing out of methane crediting for dairies starting in 2040. Impacts on California businesses are estimated at $10.4 Billion annually between 2024 and 2046.

12:43 - **Livestock Enteric Methane Emission Reduction Research Program (LEMER-RP)**: The CDFA's research program focusing on reducing methane emissions from livestock, with the Almond Board proposing a method involving fermented almond hulls.

14:43 - **Manure Methane Funding**: An update on the Manure Methane funding application period, with $21 million available for AMP and $11 million for digesters, and the importance of starting the application process early.

16:30 - **CV-SALTS History**: Paul provides a historical perspective on CV-SALTS (Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability), emphasizing its role in addressing salt buildup in the Central Valley and its impact on water quality regulations, particularly regarding nitrate management zones.

21:45 - **Water Quality Regulations**: Paul discusses upcoming challenges and changes in water quality regulations, highlighting the importance of implementing a whole-farm nitrogen balance and various solutions for mitigating dairy-related nitrogen impacts.

24:50 - **Funding Opportunities**: Paul mentions available funding options, such as CDFA's Dairy Plus Program, NRCS's equipment program, and funding from the Information Reduction Act, to assist dairies in aligning with changing regulations.

Listeners are encouraged to reach out to Paul for further information or questions related to environmental issues in the dairy industry.



Other Seen and Herd Podcast Episodes with Paul Sousa:

2022 Episodes

S&H S3E43 - Environmental Policy Breakdown with Paul Sousa

2023 Episodes

S&H S4E13 - The Environmental Report You've Been Waiting For | Paul Sousa

S&H S4E20 - Clean Fleets, Methane Reductions, and Water Quality: Insights from the WUD Board Meeting | Paul Sousa

S&H S4E26 - "Advancing Sustainable Dairy: Methane Reduction Programs for Farmers" | Paul Sousa

S&H S4E30 - “Advancing Dairy Sustainability: Reducing Emissions and Improving Water Quality" | Paul Sousa

S&H S4E36 - “Deciphering California’s Regulatory Acronym Jungle" | with Paul Sousa



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For questions about this episode, please contact Allison at allison@wudairies.com or Paul at paul@wudairies.com.

To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit https://westernuniteddairies.com.

Click the Link to become a member, https://westernuniteddairies.com/membership

Visit the Western United Dairies’ Website and Social Media Platforms:

Website - https://westernuniteddairies.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wudairies

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wudairies

Podcast | Seen and Herd 

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seen-herd/id1508160620

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6esjAxuQ3fM8U4hfURhYt8



Western United Dairies FoundationWebsite - ⁠https://wudfo

S4E35: "Join Us – Your Voice Is Valued!" | Anja Raudabaugh

The Skim:

In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Allison Tristao interviews Anja Raudabaugh, the CEO of Western United Dairies. Here's a summary of the key points discussed about becoming a Western United Dairies Board Member:




WUD Board of Directors: Western United Dairies has undergone consolidation in the California dairy industry, resulting in a reformulation of its board structure. There are now 11 board members representing various geographic regions.




Five board positions will be up for election in the upcoming winter, with terms starting in January 2024.




The regions seeking new board members include:



North Valley - San Joaquin, Sacramento, Glen, and Colusa counties

North Coast - Del Norte, Humboldt, Sonoma, and Marin counties

Central Valley - Stanislaus to Fresno counties

South State - Tulare, Kern County, and San Bernardino counties


Time Commitment: Board members attend six meetings annually, typically scheduled bi-monthly and lasting approximately 4 hours per meeting. There may also be additional monthly Zoom meetings for those on the executive committee.




Benefits of Serving on the Board: Serving on the board allows dairy farmers to participate in important policy decisions in Sacramento, including advocating for the dairy industry's interests and addressing anti-dairy legislation. 




Nominations: Nominations for board positions are being accepted, and instructions will be provided in an upcoming update in the first part of October. Anja encourages dairy farmers to consider joining the board, emphasizing that prior experience in managing their dairy is valuable, and there are no strict prerequisites.




Other Notes: The board plays a role in supporting the Political Action Committee (PAC), which is a separate entity from the board and helps amplify the dairy farmer’s voice in Sacramento. Overall, Anja highlights the importance of engagement and participation in shaping the future of the dairy industry in California.





No Market Update This Week.



Please subscribe for notifications of future episodes.

For questions about this episode, please contact Allison at allison@wudairies.com 

To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit https://westernuniteddairies.com.

Click the Link to become a member, https://westernuniteddairies.com/membership



Western United Dairies Foundation

Website - ⁠https://wudfoundation.com⁠

Visit the Western United Dairies’ Website and Social Media Platforms:

Website - https://westernuniteddairies.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wudairies

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wudairies

Podcast | Seen and Herd 

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seen-herd/id1508160620

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6esjAxuQ3fM8U4hfURhYt8

S4E34: “LandFlex’s Success and Future” | Anja Raudabaugh



The Skim:

In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Allison Tristao interviews Anja Raudabaugh, the CEO of Western United Dairies. Here's a summary of the key points discussed about the LandFlex Program:


LandFlex Program Results: The LandFlex program, in collaboration with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) and farmers, aimed to safeguard water systems and achieve groundwater sustainability goals. 

In Phase I & II, 4,317 acres of farmland were enrolled, permanently reducing aquifer demand while protecting domestic water systems. This saved water for 36,300 households and 16,161 domestic wells in the Valley.




LandFlex's Success: LandFlex surpassed its initial purpose as a drought program and demonstrated the potential of a community-driven solution for groundwater sustainability.




Future of LandFlex: Plans for Phase Two are in the works, with efforts to expand the program beyond critically over-drafted basins. The goal is to secure more funding and involve more high-priority basins. The program's success has encouraged interest from various districts and GSAs.




Improvements to LandFlex: The program is open to feedback and suggestions for improvements to make the process smoother for borrowers and lenders.




Preparing for the Future: It's essential for farmers to consider their growing operations in the context of future conditions, adjusting to minimum thresholds and reducing reliance on overdrafts. Innovation and technology deployment are crucial in managing water supply without depleting aquifers.




Encouraging Transition Conversations: The industry needs to think ahead and engage in transition conversations to eliminate overdrafts and ensure SGMA compliance.



Market Update by Tiffany LaMendola:

Tiffany LaMendola mentions that the dairy markets have improved compared to the previous month.


**Whole Milk**: Powder prices improved due to buying interest from global regions, while skimmed milk powder prices declined.




**Cheese Market**: Cheese prices were quiet until Friday when they saw some offers, with blocks closing at $1.925 and barrels at $1.8275, both down $0.04.




**Butter Market**: Butter prices were relatively quiet but ended the week down $0.05 at $2.68. 




**Nonfat Market**: Nonfat markets saw improvement, closing the week at $1.10.




**Industry Notice**: The deadline for the Dairy Revenue Protection program's fourth-quarter coverage is approaching.



Other Seen and Herd Podcast Episodes Discussing LandFlex:

S&H S3E39 - Update on Land Flex and Producer Review Board (PRB) Meeting

S&H S3E40 - Anja Raudabaugh | Second Update on LandFlex

S&H S3E45 - LandFlex Launch with Anja Raudabaugh and Aubrey Bettencourt

S&H S4E06 - LandFlex Seminar Recorded at the World Ag Expo | Anja Raudabaugh

S&H S4E09 - LandFlex Launch | Anja Raudabaugh and Aubrey Bettencourt

S&H S4E14 - LandFlex Is Here! | Anja Raudabaugh

S&H S4E22 - LandFlex Phase II | Anja Raudabaugh

S&H S4E28 - LandFlex 2.0: Updates and Challenges | Anja Raudabaugh

S&H S4E34 - LandFlex’s Success and Future | Anja Raudabaugh



Please subscribe for notifications of future episodes.



For questions about this episode, please contact Allison at allison@wudairies.com 

To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit https://westernuniteddairies.com.

Click the Link to become a member, https://westernuniteddairies.com/membership



Western United Dairies Foundation

Website - ⁠https://wudfoundation.com⁠

Visit the Western United Dairies’ Website and Social Media Platforms:

Website - https://westernuniteddairies.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wudairies

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wudairies

Podcast | Seen and Herd 

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seen-herd/id1508160620

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6esjAxuQ3fM8U4hfURhYt8

S4E33: “Getting Involved in CMAB” | Melissa Lema



The Skim:

In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Allison Tristao interviews Melissa Lema, Director of Producer Relations of the California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB). Here's a summary of the key points discussed:


 **CMAB Elections and Process**: Melissa shares that there are positions available on the CMAB Board, including multiple director and alternate roles. She explains the importance of producer input in how funds are used to market California dairy products.



The nomination period is open until Friday, September 8th.

The term for newly elected producers will start March 1st.

Reach out to Melissa if interested by email, MLema@cmab.net

Visit the California Dairy Farmers Facebook page to view a list of available positions from each district – https://www.facebook.com/groups/407653786066433/


**Board Member Commitment**: The interview touches on the responsibilities and commitments of board members, with two-day quarterly meetings held primarily in the Central Valley. Melissa describes the agenda of these meetings, including detailed reports from various CMAB departments.




**Encouraging Producer Engagement**: Throughout the interview, Melissa emphasizes the importance of producer engagement in CMAB. She encourages dairy producers to get involved, either by running for board positions or attending meetings to understand how their products are marketed.



Market Update by Tiffany LaMendola:

Tiffany LaMendola mentions that the dairy markets have improved compared to the previous month.


**Cheese Market**: Cheese prices increased earlier in the week due to tighter milk supplies caused by hot weather in key production regions, particularly in the Midwest. Spot block cheese prices reached 195 cents per pound, up by half a percent from the previous week. 




**Butter Market**: Butter prices remained stable, closing the week at 266 cents per pound, with adequate butter stocks. Cream supplies were slightly looser.




**Nonfat Market**: Nonfat dry milk faced downward pressure due to weak global demand conditions, with domestic prices dropping to their lowest since November 2020, reaching as low as $1.07 a quarter.




**Upcoming Events**: Tiffany mentions the upcoming Global Dairy Trade event on Tuesday, which will provide insights into pricing and competition with Oceana for dairy exports. The upcoming week is expected to be relatively quiet as they head into mid-September.



Please subscribe for notifications of future episodes.

For questions about this episode, please contact Allison at allison@wudairies.com 

To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit https://westernuniteddairies.com.

Click the Link to become a member, https://westernuniteddairies.com/membership



Western United Dairies Foundation

Website - ⁠https://wudfoundation.com⁠

Visit the Western United Dairies’ Website and Social Media Platforms:

Website - https://westernuniteddairies.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wudairies

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wudairies

Podcast | Seen and Herd 

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seen-herd/id1508160620

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6esjAxuQ3fM8U4hfURhYt8

S4E32: “DTAP - Milking Insights: Navigating Dairy Challenges and Opportunities” | Kyle Lutz



The Skim:



In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Allison Tristao interviews Kyle Lutz, Technical Assistance Provider of Western United Dairies, about the Dairy Technical Assistance Program (DTAP). Here's a summary of the key points discussed:


**Dairy Technical Assistance Program (DTaP):** Kyle Lutz explains that DTAP (Dairy Technical Assistance Program) is funded by the California Cattle Council and assists dairy farmers in navigating regulatory challenges. The program helps farmers with water board requirements, waste discharge permits, groundwater sampling, and other regulatory compliance issues.
**Challenges:** Kyle mentions that one of the significant challenges is helping farmers understand groundwater sampling requirements, which vary between different regional water boards in California.
**Program Availability:** DTAP services are available to all dairy farms in California, regardless of size, trade group affiliation, or milk processor.



The conversation revolves around the current state of the dairy industry, market trends, challenges faced by dairy farmers, and the assistance DTAP provides in navigating regulatory requirements.

Market Update by Tiffany LaMendola:


**Milk Production Report:** The recent milk production report for July showed a 2.5% year-over-year decline in U.S. milk production. The Southwest region experienced a significant drop of 4.4% due to tight margins and high temperatures. California's production also decreased by 5.5%, largely attributed to lower milk per cow output.
**Cheese Market:** The cold storage report indicates neutral trends for butter and a bullish outlook for cheese. Cheese prices rebounded by over $0.60 in about a month's time due to increased demand, both domestically and in exports. The focus is on sustaining cheese exports beyond September.
**Nonfat Market:** Nonfat market prices are under pressure, sitting around $1.10. Weak demand for dairy products from certain regions, like China, is impacting the powder markets.



Please subscribe for notifications of future episodes.



>> For questions about this episode, please contact Kyle at ⁠kyle@wudairies.com⁠ or Allison at ⁠allison@wudairies.com⁠ 

>> To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit ⁠wudairies.com⁠.



>> ⁠Click Here⁠ to become a member!



Western United Dairies Foundation

Website - ⁠https://wudfoundation.com⁠

Visit the Western United Dairies’ Website and Social Media Platforms:

Website - https://westernuniteddairies.com

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wudairies

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wudairies

Podcast | Seen and Herd 

Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seen-herd/id1508160620

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6esjAxuQ3fM8U4hfURhYt8

S4E31: “FMMO Hearing, The Good, The Bad, and The Snark” | Anja Raudabaugh

The Skim:

In this episode of the "Seen and Herd" podcast, Allison Tristao interviews Anja Raudabaugh, the CEO of Western United Dairies. They discuss various topics related to the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) hearing and its implications for the dairy industry.



Here are some of the main topics discussed:



1. **Purpose of the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO)**: Anja explains the purpose of the FMMO, which is to ensure an adequate national supply of fresh and wholesome milk for fluid consumption. The FMMO also aims to provide dairy farmers with stable and reliable markets to sell their milk.



2. **Components of FMMO**: Anja provides an overview of the components of the FMMO, including pooling, minimum pricing, accuracy, transparency, and the relationship between dairy processors (handlers) and dairy farmers (producers).



3. **Overview of Federal Orders**: The discussion touches on the fact that there are 11 federal orders across the United States, with certain regions being covered and regulated by FMMOs. The coverage of milk production by FMMOs has decreased over the years.



4.  **Proposals and Changes to FMMO**: Several proposals for amending or updating the FMMO are discussed. Different organizations, such as the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), National All-Jerseys, American Farm Bureau Federation, and others, have submitted proposals addressing various aspects of the FMMO.



5. **Proposed Changes to Pricing Components**: Anja outlines proposals related to changing pricing components, such as class three and four skim milk price formulas, component factors, class differentials, surveyed commodity products, and more.



6.**Make Allowance and Manufacturing Cost Allowance**: The discussion focuses on the concept of make allowance, which is the amount deducted from a dairy farmer's milk check to cover processing costs. The proposals include suggestions for increasing the make allowance and how it might impact farmers.



7. **Organic Dairy Sector and Proposals**: Anja briefly mentions a proposal from the Organic Trade Associations (OTA) to exclude the organic dairy sector from FMMO regulations but notes that this proposal was not accepted by the USDA.



8. **Timeline and Testimony Opportunities**: Anja provides information about the timeline for submitting exhibits and proposals, as well as opportunities for dairy farmers to testify during the FMMO hearing. Virtual testimony slots are offered for farmers to present their viewpoints. Western United Dairies is offering help to assist members interested in their testimonies.



9. **Potential Impact on California**: Allison asks about the potential impacts these changes will have on California. Anja shares how proposed changes might impact California's dairy industry, particularly due to the state's limited class one utilization, as most of California’s milk production is primarily utilized for cheese products and other classifications.



10. **Challenges and Contention**: Anja acknowledges that FMMO hearings often involve passionate and contentious testimonies from both farmers and processors, highlighting the challenges of finding common ground.



11. **Conclusion and Next Steps**: Anja and Allison conclude by encouraging farmers to stay informed, participate in the hearing process, and anticipate the potential effects of proposed changes on their operations.





Visit the Western United Dairies’ Website and Social Media Platforms:

Website - https://westernuniteddairies.com



>> For questions about this episode, please contact Anja at anja@wudairies.com or Allison at allison@wudairies.com 



>> To learn more about Western United Dairies, visit wudairies.com.

>> Click Here to become a member!