Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says USDA’s Dairy Industry Advisory Committee is expected to make recommendations soon on how to address the issues of milk price volatility and dairy farmer profitability. “They are on track to make some preliminary recommendations in December or January,” said Vilsack during a press conference with farm broadcasters last week. “Obviously dairy prices have improved a … Read More
Price Reporting Act Passes
A decade-long effort to improve the transparency of dairy pricing has culminated with the final passage of legislation in the House of Representatives establishing the weekly, electronic reporting of dairy prices, according to the National Milk Producers Federation, which has long sought the pricing measure. The Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2010 includes mandatory weekly electronic reporting for dairy products. … Read More
Hagen Appointed as Under Secretary
Dr. Elisabeth Hagen has been appointed as Under Secretary for Food Safety of the USDA by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “There is no higher priority at USDA than ensuring that Americans have access to a safe and healthy food supply, and Dr. Hagen’s background as the Chief Medical Officer and senior executive within USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service will … Read More
Milking Parlor: USDA & DOJ Work on Price Concerns
The Milking Parlor podcast is sponsored by: No new news to dairy producers across the country: the industry is being hit hard by historically low prices. In this edition of the Milking Parlor, we listen in to part of the news conference Secretary of Ag Tom Vilsack and Assistant Attorney General Christine Varney held during a recent joint USDA-Department of … Read More
Justice and Agricutlure Departments Hear Dairy Concerns
Hundreds of dairy farmers attended a workshop Friday in Madison, Wisconsin on competition in the dairy industry held jointly by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Justice. “This is the third session of these joint workshops which, from our perspective, have been and should continue to be a major success and an important example of government collaboration,” said Assistant Attorney … Read More
Schedule for Public Workshop Examining Dairy Competition
The Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today the agenda and panelists for the June 25 workshop examining competition in the dairy industry. The joint public workshop will build on the knowledge and experience of industry stakeholders, including farmers, processors, cooperative leaders and academics. This is the third in a series of five workshops intended … Read More
PMMB Changes Calcutation to Benefit Farmers
Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell hailed news yesterday that the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board will change its method of calculating over-order premium payment obligations on milk produced, processed and sold in the state. The Governor said the June 2 decision–which comes amidst one of the longest, most trying economic environments for dairy producers in generations–would translate into approximately $6.7 million … Read More
Vilsack Announces New Appointees to Board
Congratulations to the dairy farmers who have been newly appointed by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. All appointees will serve three-year terms effective July 1, 2010. Newly appointed National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board members are: Tunde E. Balazs, New York (Region 1); Nick Mysoré, Texas (Region 10); Henry F. Michon, California (Region … Read More
More Praise for Gov. Doyle's Veto
National dairy organizations, dairy companies and cooperatives in Wisconsin commended and thanked Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle for vetoing legislation that would have authorized the sale of raw milk at dairy farms. National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association. Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association (WVMA) and the Dairy Business Association applauded Governor Doyle’s decision. … Read More
Cooperatives Pleased with Doyle Decision
Wisconsin’s cooperatives commended Governor Jim Doyle for his decision to veto SB 434, the legislation that would permit the on-farm sale of unpasteurized milk. “Governor Doyle followed the wise counsel of both public health officials and the vast majority of Wisconsin’s $26.5 billion dairy industry when he decided to veto the legislation that would permit the on-farm sale of unpasteurized … Read More