Advocacy
Every post the Federation has filed under Advocacy.
The comment period nobody wants to miss
A federal comment window on interstate cheese shipment rules reopened this spring and closes soon. Here's what's at stake and how members have been weighing in.
Read postWhat the food box purchases mean for your cheese
A federal food-box purchasing program just moved into its second round, and it's buying more cheese styles than the first round did. Here's what we're pushing for and…
Read postWhat goes on a label this summer
Curbside pickup and direct-to-consumer boxes have put unfamiliar packaging in front of members this year. Here's the labeling advocacy work underway and what to check before you print.
Read postThe exemption question nobody has answered yet
A federal food-safety compliance date is still on the calendar for late July. We're asking regulators for clarity on how a pandemic year affects small-producer exemption thresholds.
Read postThe relief loan rules just moved again
New federal legislation loosens the terms on emergency small-business loans this week, giving creamery and shop members far more room than the original eight-week window.
Read postA rulebook that changes at every county line
As markets and shops reopen under a patchwork of local rules, we're collecting member reports on where guidance conflicts or overreaches, and asking regulators for clearer small-producer exemptions.
Read postShipping cheese across state lines
More members than ever are shipping cheese direct to a customer's door this spring, and more of them are running into rules built for a wholesale truck, not…
Read postReading the relief loan's fine print
A new federal small-business loan program opened applications this week, and several members asked us the same question: does a creamery actually qualify, and for what.
Read postWhen 'essential' doesn't mean simple
Most states have classified dairy production as essential this month, but essential status hasn't made shipment, inspection, or aging-room access simpler for small producers.
Read post