PFAS contamination and possible implications for dairy

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) have recently made headlines and there has been some focus on the dairy community. Courtney Briggs, senior director of government affairs at the American Farm Bureau Federation, shares the basics of PFAS, her experiences working with contaminated dairies and future legislation. Dairy Stream host Joanna Guza dives into the topics below with Courtney:

• 1:36: PFAS and the original intention
• 4:21: Where are PFAS commonly found
• 5:15: Clean-up of PFAS contaminated areas
•  6:17: How a farm can get in contact with PFAS   
• 7:52: Testing for PFAS 
• 10:46: PFAS testing in Maine, Michigan and New Mexico
• 11:45: Should the focus be more on PFOA and PFOS
• 12:50: Who should be most worried about PFAS on the food supply chain
•  15:05: Courtney’s experience with dairy farms impacted by PFAS
• 16:25: PFAS contamination, now what
• 18:00: Media narrative with PFAS contamination
• 19:30: How widespread is PFAS  
• 20:57: What actions are being taken to regulate PFAS
• 24:36: If a farm experiences a PFAS contamination tomorrow, what does a farm do?
• 25:31: Research support to understand PFAS
• 26:33: Wisconsin receiving PFAS funding, what will it be used for?
• 27:47: How can all industries work together now on PFAS
• 29:30: PFAS in the next farm bill
• 30:39: What is still unknown about PFAS

Special thanks to The Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin for sponsoring this episode.

About the guest

Courtney Briggs serves as the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Senior Director of Government Affairs. Her issue portfolio encompasses Clean Water Act and conservation issues. Courtney’s work focuses on specific issues such as Waters of the United States, nutrient reduction strategies and NRCS conservation compliance. Courtney came to the American Farm Bureau Federation in November 2021. Prior to joining AFBF she served as Senior Federal Legislative Director of Government Affairs at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). For over a decade, Courtney directed the federal lobbying on environment, transportation and land use policies. Courtney currently serves as Chair of the Waters Advocacy Coalition, a multi-industry coalition that focuses on Clean Water Act issues. Prior to joining NAHB, she spent 5 years on Capitol Hill working for Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Courtney grew up outside of Winston-Salem, North Carolina and graduated from Villanova University with a degree in political science. She lives on Capitol Hill with her husband and two young children. 

This podcast is co-produced by the Dairy Business Association and Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, sister organizations that fight for effective dairy policy in Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. 

Become a sponsor, share an idea or feedback by emailing podcast@dairyforward.com.