More than 20 dairy industry representatives, including 15 dairy producers, traveled to Harrisburg earlier this month to meet with more than 20 key legislators and staffers in the capitol building. The delegation was organized by the Government Relations Committee of the Pennsylvania Dairy Task Force, with assistance from the Professional Dairy Managers of Pennsylvania and the Center for Dairy Excellence.
“With milk margins at all-time lows and many of the state’s dairy farms in danger, it is crucial that legislators recognize the vital economic engine our dairy industry is for Pennsylvania and the important role a strong support system provides to the industry,” says Tim Kurtz, chair of the Government Relations Committee and a dairy producer from Elverson. “This was a monumental event because it was the first time we’ve had a significant number of dairy producers and industry representatives converge at the Capitol on the same day.”
The delegation visited with members of the Senate Ag and Appropriations Committees, as well as key House members. Dairy producers participating in the event also visited with legislators representing their district. At least three people attended each meeting and updated legislators and staffers on dairy’s role in Pennsylvania, the current state of the dairy industry, and support programs for dairy in the state.
“The meetings were overwhelmingly positive, with many of the legislators and staffers telling us that they do not hear enough from the dairy sector of the state,” Kurtz says. “They seemed to have a genuine interest in agriculture, recognizing the enormous value dairy contributes to Pennsylvania. With the current budget situation and their hectic schedules, we were amazed at their willingness to visit with us and listen to what we had to say.”
The legislative visits were coordinated in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Dairy Task Force semi-annual meeting held in Harrisburg and the annual “June Dairy Month” giant ice cream sundae celebration hosted by Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program and Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association on the steps of the capitol building. Many of the delegates visiting with legislators were task force members, and they all attended the giant ice cream sundae unveiling prior to going on their visits.
“It was truly a collaborative effort to promote dairy at the capitol that day,” Kurtz says. “The General Assembly members and their staffers were first invited to enjoy free ice cream sundaes in honor of June Dairy Month. Later, we followed up with visits to reinforce why dairy is important to our state. It was really a unique opportunity to share dairy’s story with state policy leaders.”