Do you know of a dairy man or woman who would make a good nomination for the new Dairy Industry Advisory Committee established by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)? Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is seeking your nominations for the new Committee.
Written nominations must be received on or before September 28, and should be sent to Judith Lindsay, secretary to Brandon Willis, Deputy Administrator, Farm Service Agency, Farm Programs, USDA Room 3612-S, Stop 0501, Washington, D.C. 20250-0501; faxed to (202) 720-4726; or e-mailed to: judith.lindsay@wdc.usda.gov.
Once appointed, the committee will review the issues of farm milk price volatility, and dairy farmer profitability. The committee will also offer suggestions and ideas on how USDA can best address these issues to meet the dairy industry’s needs. USDA is establishing the committee under the authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972.
“The Obama Administration is committed to working with all sectors of the dairy industry to develop changes to the dairy pricing system to avoid the boom and bust cycle behind the crisis facing many dairy farmers this year,” said Vilsack. “The input provided by the members of this committee will play an important role in building a more stable market for dairy producers for years to come.”
The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint up to 15 representatives of the dairy industry to serve in an advisory capacity on the Committee. Representatives will include: producers and producer organizations, processors and processor organizations, handlers, consumers, academia, retailers, and state agencies involved in organic and non-organic dairy at the local, regional, national and international levels.