News Release
Date: Jan. 21, 2008
Contact: Rebecca Schuelke, communication specialist
Telephone: (315) 453-3823 extension 103
Cell phone: (315) 427-2714
Email: rschuelke@nyfvi.org
NY, Pennsylvania, Vermont agriculture departments pledge to work cooperatively on dairy
State agriculture leaders from New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont reaffirmed a pledge to work together in addressing issues that confront the regional dairy industry at a meeting on Jan. 18 in Oneonta, NY.
"Working together is always rewarding, especially in this industry, which is so critical to what the Northeast is about," said Roger Allbee, Vermont secretary of agriculture.
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Approximately 50 farmers and representatives from government and agricultural service attended the signing, which was part of a two-day dairy issues forum hosted by the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team.
The Northeast Dairy Leadership Team grew from a memorandum to work together first signed by the three state agriculture leaders in June 2006. The Northeast Dairy Leadership Team includes farmers and representatives from government and agri-service.
The Northeast Dairy Leadership Team has hosted forums and educational workshops related to dairy issues and has advocated for federal dairy policy change.
Participating in regional meetings inspired the formation of the New York Center for Dairy Excellence, based on success with the similar Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence, said New York agriculture commissioner Patrick Hooker.
The New York Center for Dairy Excellence, created in early 2007 and funded through state appropriations to the nonprofit New York Farm Viability Institute, has spearheaded several statewide dairy programs, including manure management research and outreach education, and profit-focused farm discussion groups.
"The role of the department is to bring people together. People come to us with ideas and concerns and we tend to know the people to go to," Hooker said.
Allbee said that Vermont farms are now using a profit team approach, in which a group of bankers, animal nutritionists, crop specialists and others serve as non-voting advisors to individual farms in hopes of arriving at comprehensive solutions to farm problems. Pennsylvania has used profit teams for a decade, and the New York Center for Dairy Excellence initiated a profit team project last year.
Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture, likened the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team to a profit team for the dairy industry.
"Sometimes, this structure forces a conversation. It brings us all to the same table," he said.
Hooker stressed the continuing need to work together to keep the Northeast a strong and viable dairy industry.
"We as a producing region need to stick together," he said.
The January Northeast Dairy Leadership Team forum included programming on milk labeling and rBST, raw milk sales, and animal well-being standards. There were presentations on a tri-state milk quality initiative, and environmental regulations.
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.