Federal legislation (SB 222) introduced by Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) would allow schools participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program to serve whole and 2 percent milk. According to a statement from the National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry supported this legislation via voice vote Tuesday afternoon.

For over a decade, the program has been limited to offering only 1 percent and fat-free options, despite the fact that whole and reduced-fat milk remain the most popular varieties in American households.

“The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is about making informed, science-backed decisions that prioritize the health and future of our children,” NMPF President and CEO Gregg Doud said. “We’re grateful that this common-sense legislation has received such strong support from both sides of the aisle. We commend Senators Marshall and Welch for authoring this bill in the Senate and advocating passionately for its passage, as well as Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar for their bipartisan leadership in moving the bill through committee. Passing the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act will allow more schoolkids to access essential nutrients in their diets, and that’s something everyone can get behind.”

2025 Dairy Industry Report: What It Means for Producers—And How AGPROfessionals Can Help

The 2025 State of the Dairy Industry report produced by Farm Journal presents a picture of cautious optimism within the U.S. dairy sector. Despite persistent challenges, such as labor shortages, regulatory burdens, market volatility, and rising input costs, many producers are planning to expand, diversify, and adopt new technologies. At AGPROfessionals, we recognize the need for strategic, resilient support across these evolving areas, and we're here to help producers capitalize on opportunities while navigating risks.

Optimism in Dairy, But Challenges Persist

Based on a nationwide survey of 400 producers, the report reveals:

· This year 74% anticipate making a profit

• In the next five years, 44% plan to expand
• More than half (57%) are optimistic about the future

However, this encouraging outlook is tempered by key concerns:

• Rising inflation and cost of materials
• Ongoing labor shortages
• Complex and evolving regulatory compliance
• Limited succession planning, with only 41% of operations having a defined strategy

Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025: A Lifeline for Livestock Producers

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and fellow Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), and John Cornyn (R-TX) have taken a major step to protect farmers' and ranchers' livelihoods by introducing the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025. This bill seeks to tackle the growing threat of black vultures to newborn livestock nationwide.

Understanding the Threat

Most people view vultures as scavengers that clean up the carcasses of dead animals. However, this isn't true for Black Vultures. These large, predatory birds actively hunt and consume live animals. They are ruthless, often hunting in flocks of 20 or more, stalking and then attacking young livestock. Most commonly, they target pregnant animals, waiting for the right moment to pounce - when they are giving birth and when the mother is vulnerable and unable to protect her young. Their primary targets include newborn calves, lambs, goat kids, and piglets.

In 2015, Black Vultures were the third leading cause of calf deaths due to predators, following coyotes and unknown predators, causing 24,600 or 10% of all calf deaths due to predators. Between 2020 and 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services reported nearly a 25% rise in Black Vulture attacks on cattle.

Article excerpts:

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture is ramping up efforts to control the New World Screwworm with a $21 million investment in a new sterile insect production facility in Metapa, Mexico. The announcement came during a bilateral call between U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and her Mexican counterpart, Secretary Julio Berdegué Sacristán, as both nations reaffirmed their commitment to containing the spread of the destructive livestock pest.

The New World Screwworm, a parasitic insect that preys on warm-blooded animals, poses a significant threat to livestock health, rural economies, and national food security. It was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1980s through a coordinated regional campaign, but persistent threats in parts of Mexico and Central America continue to pressure the U.S. border.

“Our partnership with Mexico is crucial in making this effort a success,” Rollins said. “We are continuing to work closely with Mexico to push NWS away from the United States and out of Mexico. The investment I am announcing today is one of many efforts my team is making around the clock to protect our animals, our farm economy, and the security of our nation’s food supply.”

Article excerpts:

“Whether the Trump administration continues to pursue a Clean Water Act case against a Bruneau, Idaho, ranch will not be decided until at least the end of August, as a federal court granted an abeyance to the federal government until Aug. 21, 2025.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho last week granted the Trump administration motion for an additional 90 days to review the case against Ace Black Ranches, considering the administration's revisiting of the waters of the U.S. rule currently in process.

The U.S. Environmental Protect Agency alleged the ranch made several alterations to the Bruneau River and surrounding wetlands as part of a sand and gravel operation on the property. The agency alleged the ranch had been operating without a Clean Water Act dredge-and-fill permit.

An amended complaint shows before-and-after satellite photos purporting to show eight connection points between the Bruneau River and wetlands on the ranch. The EPA alleges there were at least four continuous surface connections between wetlands and the river disrupted by the ranch.

The current development of a new WOTUS rule is focusing on covering only wetlands that have a continuous surface connection, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Sackett v EPA.

It's great to see the innovations our clients are implementing being showcased in Capital Press. Our team at AGPROfessionals worked with the folks at InterMountain Beef on the grading plans and the planning and permitting process for this project. Intermountain Beef's adoption of RCC for their feedyard pens represents a forward-thinking approach to livestock management, showcasing the potential benefits of innovative materials and techniques in the agriculture industry.

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“Muddy pens are a fading memory for the staff at InterMountain Beef in south central Idaho.

To improve drainage and boost cattle performance, roller compacted concrete footing was installed at the 30,000-head feedlot about 16 miles east of Twin Falls near Eden.

“We’re the first feedlot in Idaho to line our pens and runoff pond with RCC,” says Cevin Jones, CEO and the third generation to work at the 200-acre family-owned operation.

“To stay in business, you have to find ways to innovate and be more efficient and competitive,” he said.

Through his consultants, Jones learned about RCC, a mixture of cement, aggregates, and water but with less water content than traditional cement.

Article excerpts:

“The Nebraska legislature amended the feedlot brand bill again on May 21, 2025, and this might not be the final change.

Although it was rumored that the contentious bill might not be brought up again with the legislative session nearing the end, it was in fact scheduled for floor debate May 21, 2025. A new, unexpected amendment was offered that day and passed by a voice vote.

After multiple amendments and conversations about optional language, the Nebraska unicameral approved AM 1558 which essentially makes three changes to the current Nebraska brand law.

1. Lowers the fees for Registered Feedlots (RFLs) from the current fee of $1 per head calculated on one-time capacity to $.50 per head based on one-time capacity
2. Raises the cap for the brand inspection fee to $1.50.
3. Exempts qualified dairies from brand inspection

Ibach told TSLN that she might propose yet another amendment. She would like to see an exemption for cattle that enter a growyard or feedyard but do not change ownership. Currently when cattle enter a growyard or a feedyard they must be inspected even if no change of ownership occurs. Ibach would like to see this amended to require no more than one inspection, and for cattle that come into the inspection area from a non-inspection area (such as cattle entering the Nebraska inspection area from Kansas), health paperwork or other paperwork should be sufficient to supplant the current required inspection, she believes.

Benjamin Franklin famously said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” The Founding Father didn’t know it then, but sometimes those two constants happen in quick succession.

For farm families, estate taxes aren’t just an abstract policy debate — they’re a very real threat to generational farms and the livelihoods they support. While tax policy tends to fly under the radar for most people, recent developments out of Washington, D.C., are once again putting the federal estate tax front and center, especially for the agricultural community.

This time the story starts with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which dramatically increased the federal estate and gift tax exemption. That exemption — essentially the amount of wealth a person can pass on without triggering the federal estate tax — was doubled under the TCJA. For 2024, that amount sits at $13.61 million per person, or $27.22 million for a married couple. But, as with many things in tax law, it came with an expiration date. When the calendar flips to January 1, 2026, the exemption will drop back down to its pre-TCJA levels, adjusted for inflation. That means a single person could pass on only roughly $7 million before the estate tax bill comes due.

LAST UPDATE: May 21, 2025 -15:30 AM CST

HPAI (Avian Influenza) in Dairy Cows – RESOURCES and NEWS UPDATING AS INFORMATION IS RELEASED

Since March of 2024, we have been carefully monitoring news stories and information regarding the initial outbreak and spread of HPAI in dairies for our clients. Since this is a developing situation, we felt it would be helpful for producers to have easy access to information in one place.

Therefore, we have put together a list of articles and resources and will update this list as needed.

Information:

• APHIS Report: HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock HERE

• APHIS announces new indemnity policy to combat HPAI HERE

• Oregon Department of Agriculture:Oregon is one of six states to begin testing milk for H5N1 Avian Influenza HERE

  more

Article excerpts:

“Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ first major set of policy proposals are aimed at improving the viability and longevity of smaller-scale family farms — a tactic directly addressing some of her biggest critics over the past several months. The newly launched Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative has outlined a toolkit of actions, including the streamlining of application processes, improving reliable access to credit, farmland, and markets, and appropriate business planning tools that are intended to better serve the 86 percent of farms in the U.S. that are considered to be small operations.”

“Her 14-page Farmers First proposal is broken down into 10 categories that will “ensure small family farmers can start and stay in business for generations to come,” the document said. “USDA is placing specific emphasis on understanding the barriers to starting and keeping small family farms viable.” The categories are:

1. Ensure Simple Streamlined and Transparent Tools and Applications
2. Ensure Reliable Access to Credit
3. Ensure Working Farmland is Used to Farm
4. Ensure Small Farms Can Be Passed On to the Next Generation for Generations to Come
5. Hyperfocus USDA Programs for Farmers on Farmers
6. Labor Reform
7. Enhance Access to Risk Management and Business Planning Tools
8. Ensure Definitions of Farm Size Reflect Modern Day Realities
9. Enhance Farmer Access to Educational Resources
10. Other Small Farm Resources Available”

Alt-meat maker Beyond Meat gave up part of its headquarters this month, according to documents filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company amended its lease on the commercial property in El Segundo, Calif., paying a termination fee of $1 million to surrender 61,566 square feet of the building back to the landlord, while keeping 220,519 square feet at the property.

Additionally, Beyond Meat will transfer the title of ownership for $200,000 worth of items, including a generator and other electrical equipment, and must complete modifications to the property, like rerouting electrical wiring, at an expected cost of $600,000.

The lease change quickly followed the company’s disappointing first-quarter financial results and amid reports that the company is struggling to pay bills on time.

On June 24, 2024, the United States Forest Service (USFS) chose to criminally indict my husband and I, instead of seeking resolution to a boundary issue they first made us aware of on March 29, 2024. On April 30, 2025, our family stood on the steps of the USDA building in Washington D.C. as Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollings announced that the criminal charges brought against us were dropped.

Much has happened since March of 2024, and we thank Tri-State Livestock News (TSLN) for working hard to share our story over the last year, during which time we could not speak to the press. Our inability to speak in combination with the unheard-of actions taken against us, and a piece of property and situation that is difficult to explain resulted in a lot of questions. With the dropping of the criminal charges, I can now speak, and TSLN has offered me this space to answer frequently asked questions by their readership, and others.

This issue occurred on the Cheyenne River in very eastern Custer County, South Dakota. An alleged hunter turned in a, “No Trespassing,” sign on a section of fence not on the boundary line. This was on the west boundary between our private property and USFS allotment. (We still have not seen that original complaint, and question its existence).

Upcoming Stakeholder Meeting:

Colorado Department of Agriculture Proposes Increase to Brand Inspection Fees

AGPROfessionals would like to alert our clients and livestock industry partners to an important upcoming stakeholder meeting hosted by the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA). The meeting will address a proposed increase in fees and assessments for brand inspections and related services under the state's Brand Inspection Division.

Meeting Details:

• Purpose: Discussion of proposed fee and assessment increases for brand inspections
• Hosted by: Colorado Department of Agriculture – Brands Division
• Date & Time: Tuesday, May 27th at 11:00 AM via Zoom
• Link to register for the zoom meeting: HERE
• Link to provide a written comment: If you cannot attend the meeting, you can still participate and share your views via written comment by following this link: HERE

Understanding the Ninth Circuit's Decision on CAFO Regulations

At AGPROfessionals, we believe it's important to keep our clients and agricultural industry stakeholders informed about legal, legislative, and regulatory developments that impact us all. Recently, several articles have been circulated discussing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' memorandum over the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) regulations. The memorandum issued by the Ninth Circuit was filed in October 2024 but was unpublished. We wanted to provide some context and explain why this ruling is a positive step for American agriculture.

A Win for Modern Agriculture: Ninth Circuit Affirms EPA's Sensible Approach to CAFO Regulations

What Happened

In 2017, and 2022, the EPA rejected the petitions of several environmental and anti-animal agriculture groups to immediately implement sweeping regulatory changes targeting CAFOs. They were making demands that sought to force the EPA to impose more stringent regulations without proper scientific investigation. The activist groups making the demands included environmental and animal rights organizations like the Humane Society of the United States (now named A Humane World for Animals), Friends of the Earth, Earth Justice, and more.