News Release
Date: Jan. 9, 2008
Run Date: Now-Jan. 17-18, 2008
Re: Agriculture state government leaders from New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania to
sign memorandum to work together on dairy issues at Northeast Dairy Leaders
meet, Jan. 17-18 in Oneonta
Contact Person: Rebecca Schuelke, communication specialist, (315) 453-3823
extension 103, rschuelke@nyfvi.org
Northeast agriculture leaders will work together on dairy issues
Memorandum signed at Northeast Dairy Leadership Team meeting, Jan. 17-18 in
Oneonta
The commissioner and secretaries of agriculture from New York, Pennsylvania and
Vermont will re-affirm an agreement to work cooperatively on issues that affect
the regional dairy industry.
Commissioner Patrick Hooker of New York, Secretary Dennis Wolff of Pennsylvania
and Secretary Roger Albee of Vermont will sign a memorandum of understanding at
10 a.m. Jan. 18 at the Holiday Inn, Oneonta. The signing will be part of a
Northeast Dairy Leadership Team two-day meeting on dairy issues that begins on
Jan. 17 with programming on milk labeling and rBST, raw milk sales, animal
well-being standards, and more.
The meeting is open to farmers, agri-service representatives and industry
personnel with an interest in the northeast dairy industry.
The Northeast Dairy Leadership Team grew from a June 2006 memorandum of
understanding signed by the agricultural commissioners from New York,
Pennsylvania and Vermont, agreeing that the states should work collaboratively
to address dairy issues from a regional perspective.
Since the first memorandum signing, the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team has
hosted a series of forums to identify opportunities and barriers to success in
the dairy industry, coordinated educational workshops, and encouraged
legislative action favorable to dairy farming and the dairy industry.
The January meeting will include presentations on a milk quality initiative,
dairy check-off programs, and CAFO regulations.
To register for the meeting, contact your states representative. In New York,
contact Mark Kenville at (315) 453-3823. In Vermont, contact Diane Bothfeld
(802)828-3835. In Pennsylvania, contact John Frey at (717)346-0849.
Northeast Dairy Leadership Team Meeting
January 17-18 at Holiday Inn Oneonta, NY
Tentative Agenda
JANUARY 17
10:00 am to 12:30 pm rBST discussion - Moderator - Diane
Bothfeld
o History/Labeling Timeline, Diane Bothfeld, Vermont Agency of Agriculture
o Regional rBST milk marketing overview and policies/issues across the country,
Brad Keating of Dairy Marketing Services/DFA
o Processor and Retailer Perspective, (TBA)
o Impact of lack of rBST use on milk supply, Mark Stephenson of Cornell
University
12:30 to 1:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm Raw Milk
o State by State Regulations and Update, Diane Bothfeld of Vermont Department of
Agriculture
Jerry Cosgrove of New York Department of Agriculture and Markets
Bill Chirdon of Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
2:30 pm to 3:30 pm Tri-State Milk Quality Initiative
o Overview and impact of collaborative quality initiative, Dr. Frank Welcome of
Quality Milk Production Service
3:30 pm to 3:45 pm Break
3:45 pm to 5:15 pm DMI presentation
o Update/report in response to NEDLT working group concerns, Paul Doton,
Barnard, Vermont of the United Dairy Industry Association
6:15 pm 8:00 pm Dinner
o Presentation on risk management tools for Dairy, Katie Rossini of DFA
JANUARY 18
7:00 am to 8:00 Buffet Breakfast (NEDLT Executive Committee to
meet over breakfast)
8:00 am to 9:00 am Emerging Animal Welfare Standards
o Update on new initiatives emerging around the country, Caroline Potter,
Northeast Dairy Producers Association
9:00 am to 10:00 am CAFO Panel Discussion
o Discussion on state regulations and issues, Dave Lane of the Vermont
Department of Agriculture
Rob Davidson of the PA Department of Agriculture
Karl Czymmek of PRO-DAIRY
10:00 am to 10:15 am Memorandum of Understanding Re-Signing
Secretary Albee
Secretary Wolff
Commissioner Hooker
10:15 am to 10:45 am Break and Adjournment of Informational Session
10:45 am to 12:15 pm NEDLT Meeting Working Group Updates
12:15 pm to 1:15 pm Noon Lunch
1:15 pm to 2:30 pm Full NEDLT Meeting
New York Farm Viability Institute is an independent, farmer-led nonprofit
organization that directs and funds farm-level research to increase profits,
reduce costs and other barriers, create jobs and encourage practical innovation
on the farm. The Institute receives funds from the New York State Department of
Agriculture and Markets. Visit www.nyfvi.org.