U.S. dairy rests on a deeply personal foundation: family. Roughly 95% of American dairy farms are family-owned, shaped by generations of work, sacrifice, and continuity.

On our farm, as on so many others across the country, cows are more than a source of income. They represent a way of life handed down across generations, tying families to the land and to one another.

Today, roughly one out of every six gallons of milk produced in the United States is transformed into a product destined for international markets. That reality underscores an essential truth: the long-term vitality of America’s dairy farm families depends on reliable access to export markets.

As family farmers, we take pride in our resilience. When times become difficult, we adapt. When challenges emerge, we work together to solve them. But no matter how efficient or innovative we become, without strong export markets the industry would face a dangerous surplus of milk with nowhere to go.

Exports, therefore, are not optional. They are essential to the economic stability and long-term security of U.S. dairy farms. The U.S. Dairy Export Council plays a critical role by connecting American dairy products—and the farm families behind them—with customers around the world.

Reliability matters enormously in global trade. Overseas buyers trust the quality and consistency of U.S. dairy products. They expect not only the next shipment, but the shipment after that, to arrive on time and meet the same standards. If American producers are unfairly shut out of a market or unable to deliver products efficiently, buyers will inevitably turn elsewhere.

That is why supply-chain resilience, dependable trade relationships, and reduced barriers to market access are just as important as producing high-quality milk. USDEC helps bridge that gap by addressing unfair trade practices, assisting exporters in navigating logistical challenges, and reinforcing confidence among global customers that U.S. dairy remains a dependable partner.

And the demand is growing. This year alone, U.S. cheese exports have risen by more than 20%, while butter exports have surged by over 40%. Yet the future of American dairy is not tied to any single product. From cheese and butter to specialized dairy ingredients, every category has an important role to play in international markets.

When American dairy producers enter new markets, they do so with a partnership mindset—one that respects local stakeholders and reflects a willingness to both learn and share expertise. From nutrition education and animal care to sustainability practices, U.S. dairy organizations routinely collaborate with international partners to grow demand for dairy in ways that create mutual benefit.

That collaborative spirit is one reason the International Dairy Federation remains so important. The organization provides invaluable opportunities for farmers and industry leaders from around the world to exchange knowledge, strengthen relationships, and equip one another with the tools needed to farm responsibly and sustainably in the years ahead.

The International Dairy Federation and the U.S. Dairy Export Council, for example, work together to advance global dairy standards, sustainability initiatives, and trade competitiveness. As the U.S. representative to IDF, USDEC contributes technical expertise and policy insight that help shape international guidelines for dairy production and safety, while aligning American dairy innovation and export strategies with evolving regulations and market opportunities worldwide.

Ultimately, I continue to find that dairy farmers around the world have far more in common than what divides them. The issue is not one country competing against another. It is about ensuring that farmers everywhere can continue their work, that communities everywhere have access to dairy nutrition, and that the family farm remains at the center of the industry’s future.

For U.S. dairy farmers, global connections are not abstract policy debates. They are deeply personal.

Those connections are what allow farms like ours to survive and thrive for the next generation while continuing to share the nourishment and value of dairy with a world that increasingly depends on it.