Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Dairy, Diets, and Droughts
45 Plays6 days ago
Big headlines this week from Washington D.C. to the plains! Braeden and Savannah are checking in on all things dairy, diets, and droughts.
In the headlines this week:
- The American Dairy Coalition (ADC) is raising concerns about the FDA's new "Healthy" labeling rule, claiming it discriminates against natural dairy products. Learn more here: https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/adc-says-new-healthy-labeling-rule-discriminates-against-dairy/
- As we gear up for the summer, meteorologists are raising concerns about the alarming combination of drought and soaring temperatures. Learn more here: https://www.agweb.com/news/crops/crop-production/its-not-just-drought-meteorologists-are-concerned-about-summer-its-als
- A Memorandum was signed to enhance wildfire preparedness and response after an early and intense start to 2025. Learn more here: https://www.beefmagazine.com/policy/usda-and-doi-sign-joint-fire-memo-ahead-of-peak-fire-season
- The "Make America Healthy Again" report faces scrutiny from ag organizations for its lack of scientifically based information. Learn more here: https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/22960-ag-groups-say-maha-report-goes-too-far-on-pesticides?utm_source=Agri-Pulse+Daybreak&utm_campaign=caadd183df-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_05_23_02_22&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-caadd183df-48951597
- Dairy broke into the sports world this week with features at the Indianapolis 500 and on Fenway Park. Learn more here: https://www.agdaily.com/lifestyle/while-palou-stayed-dry-indy-500-fans-brought-the-milk-mayhem/
About Magnetic Ag - Ears Edition
Your ag news just got an upgrade. Magnetic Ag - Ears Edition isn’t your grandpa’s farm report — it’s fast, unfiltered and actually fun. It’s your quick weekly update on what’s happening in the world of food and ag.
Subscribe to the Magnetic Ag twice-weekly news letter: https://magnetic-ag.com/subscribe/
Recommended
Transcript
Controversy Over FDA's New Healthy Rule
00:00:00
Speaker
Dairy is breaking headlines this week as the American Dairy Coalition challenges the FDA's new healthy rule and sports goers have been caught dousing themselves in milk. Also making headlines, soaring temperatures across the plains, a memorandum to enhance wildfire preparedness and response, and the Make America Healthy Again campaign impact in agriculture.
00:00:22
Speaker
Grab you a glass of milk and settle in for this week's headlines.
00:00:29
Speaker
I'm Brayden. And I'm Savannah. Welcome to Magnetic Ag Ears Edition. Every week, we break down the top headlines and trends facing food and agriculture. Fast, fun, and actually useful.
00:00:40
Speaker
Let's get it The American Dairy Coalition, or ADC, is raising concerns against the Food and Drug Administration's new healthy rule, claiming it discriminates against natural dairy products.
00:00:52
Speaker
Under the proposed guidelines, nonfat and low-fat dairy items like unflavored yogurt, skim milk, would qualify under the healthy label. This excludes traditional dairy staples such as whole milk and cheese, despite their nutrient-rich profiles.
00:01:09
Speaker
Sherry Bunting, a researcher with the ADC, argues that the new front of package or FOP labels, which rate products based on saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars, could mislead consumers.
00:01:20
Speaker
Quote, it kind of makes consumers look at the rating on the front and then not pay attention to the actual nutrients the food may provide on the back. She explains. The ADC points out that this new labeling criteria overlook the fact that dairy products provide three of the four under-consumed nutrients identified by the government, which are calcium, potassium, and vitamin D. They argue that the focus of saturated fats and sodium content fails to consider the overall nutritional value of dairy.
00:01:50
Speaker
For dairy farmers, these labeling changes could have significant market implications. Products lacking the quote healthy label might face reduced consumer demand, potentially impacting sales and profitability.
00:02:01
Speaker
The ADC has submitted a formal objection to the FDA urging a reconsideration of the label criteria to more accurately reflect the nutritional benefits of dairy products.
00:02:13
Speaker
They emphasize the importance of providing consumers with comprehensive information to make more informed dietary
Environmental Challenges: Heat, Drought, and Wildfires
00:02:19
Speaker
choices. As we gear up for the summer, meteorologists are raising concerns not just about drought, but also about soaring temperatures.
00:02:26
Speaker
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, there's a 50-60% chance of above-average temperatures from June through September across the U.S. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey notes that climate models consistently show a ridge across western North America, potentially leading to drought development or expansion in the plains and the west.
00:02:46
Speaker
This summer, it's not just about the heat that will cause trouble for farmers. The combination of high temperatures and drought conditions can be particularly damaging. Recent research indicates that drought can increase the average duration of heat waves by 13 to 48 hours, intensifying the stress on crops and livestock.
00:03:05
Speaker
Brad Rippey states, to note drought expansion in places like the Dakotas, even into the western Corn Belt. That's where we'll be watching because it starts intersecting some of our major crop areas where we could see significant drought during the growing season.
00:03:18
Speaker
And Braden, what always seems to tag along with drought and hot weather? Wildfires. And government officials are working to increase efforts on that front. In a response to an early and intense start to the 2025 wildfire season, U.S. Secretary of Ag Brooke Rollins and the Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum have signed a joint morandum to enhance wildfire preparedness in response.
00:03:42
Speaker
This agreement aims to ensure close coordination between the two departments during what is anticipated to be a challenging fire season. The memorandum emphasizes the need for a highly coordinated national wildland firefighting system, focusing on a rapid and effective wildfire suppression.
00:03:58
Speaker
It also commits to prioritizing common-sense lands management practices to reduce fuel loads, mitigate risk, and improve response capabilities. To bolster firefighting efforts, Secretary Rollins has directed the USDA Forest Service to take several organizational actions, including authorizing staff across the department to work on temporary fire assignments.
00:04:19
Speaker
This move aims to increase operational readiness and ensure that wildland fire personnel have the necessary resources, training, and support to operate safely and effectively. So what does this mean for farmers and ranchers? With the wildfire season already off to a sobering start, the enhanced coordination and resource allocation could play a crucial role in protecting agriculture lands in rural communities from the devastating impacts of wildfires.
00:04:46
Speaker
The USDA suggests that producers stay informed on fire conditions and collaborate with local authorities on fire prevention and response strategies.
Criticism of Report on Farming Practices
00:04:56
Speaker
The White House released the Make America Healthy Again report, spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins.
00:05:05
Speaker
The report identifies four primary contributors to the rise in chronic diseases among American children. These include poor diet, environmental chemical exposure, lack of physical activity, and over-medicalization.
00:05:18
Speaker
The report is facing scrutiny from several farming organizations for its lack of scientifically based information. The National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association argue that the report relies on outdated and limited studies and could lead to unnecessary regulatory changes that may disrupt farming practices.
00:05:37
Speaker
A significant portion of the MAHA report addresses the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in children's diets. It specifically targets seed oils, added sugars, and artificial food dyes, urging a shift toward whole food diets.
00:05:51
Speaker
The administration has already initiated plans to phase out certain food dyes and is considering restrictions on food additives. The report's emphasis on reducing the use of seed oils could affect the market for crops like soybeans and canola, which are primary sources of these oils.
00:06:06
Speaker
Finally, the MAHA report also criticizes aspects of the U.S. food system, including lobbying by food groups, farm consolidation, and the disruption of crop insurance.
00:06:17
Speaker
It notes that crop insurance has traditionally focused on row crops, not specialty crops, potentially disadvantaging producers of fruits, vegetables, and other specialty products. In response, the USDA has introduced programs like the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Grabs to support growers of fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts.
Dairy Traditions at Major Events
00:06:38
Speaker
Savannah, it turns out dairy had main character energy this week. The winner of the Indianapolis 500 has received a cold bottle of milk in the victory circle for the 69th consecutive year, a tradition that dates back to 1936 when Lewis Minor,
00:06:52
Speaker
when lewis minor requested buttermilk after winning the race. This moment, captured by a photographer, became one of motorsports' most iconic rituals. Winners today choose between whole, 2%, or skim milk that is then handed to the driver, team owner, and crew chief after the checkered flag is waived.
00:07:10
Speaker
This year's winner, Alex Pillow, broke the tradition by sipping, not showering, himself in milk. His decision came after advice from fans and his crew chief, with Pillow noting, quote, I was close, but didn't want to smell like milk for six hours.
00:07:25
Speaker
Despite skipping the dousing, he called it the best milk he's ever tasted. In just hours earlier at Fenway Park, a fan went viral after dumping an entire gallon of milk over their head in celebration of a Red Sox home run, all while wearing an Indy 500 t-shirt.
00:07:41
Speaker
The milk missed the mouth and soaked the section, leading to speculation that the moment may have been part of a staged promotion, possibly connected to race sponsors or even the dairy industry.
00:07:52
Speaker
Payto Award, another indie driver, finally completed a pandemic delay Ricky ritual, milking a cow. With help from Indiana's Dairy Association, a cow named Rihanna was brought to the Spreedyway, giving Award a hands-on ag experience.
00:08:08
Speaker
What I really want to know is, how can I get paid to attend sporting events just to go viral? Sounds like a one-way ticket to Hollywood that I would sign up for. Maybe we should try that next week on the pod.
00:08:21
Speaker
Hungry for more? Subscribe to our twice weekly newsletter for more industry news right in your inbox. Or follow along on socials at magnetic.ag for more trends and headlines. Thanks for listening to Magnetic Ag, Ears Edition.