Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the second meeting of the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee will be June 3-4 at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C., in room 104-A of the Jamie L. Whitten Building. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss farm milk price volatility and dairy farmer profitability, review current … Read More
Dairy Price Stabilization Act Introduced
The Dairy Price Stabilization Act was introduced on the House floor today by Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and co-sponsors Peter Welch (D-VT), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Rick Larsen (D-WA), and John B. Larson (D-CT). Costa says the bill promotes market stability and individual dairy farmers’ ability to grow their own business. “While periods of boom and bust are not new to … Read More
Hardesty Elected to USDEC
More congratulations are due to Colorado dairyman Les Hardesty, for being elected chairman of the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Hardesty will fill the seat made vacant by Tom Camerlo’s unexpected passing last fall. Hardesty is the third elected chairman in the organization’s history, following Elwood Kirkpatrick (1995-2004) and Tom Camerlo (2004-2009). Paul Rovey has served as interim chairman since Camerlo’s … Read More
N.Y.'s Congressman Bill Owens Named to Ag Committee
Congressman Bill Owens from New York State has announced his appointment to the House Committee on Agriculture. He will join colleagues on the panel that has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of various federal agencies. “Upstate N.Y. agriculture is a major driver of our entire state’s economy, and now our region has a larger role in the … Read More
FDA's Sundlof Leaves
The Food and Drug Administration’s director of food safety is leaving the agency for an academic post, the FDA said Monday. Stephen Sundlof, who has been with the FDA 16 years, will join the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, according to a statement from the FDA. A veterinarian and research scientist by training, Dr. Sundlof became director of the … Read More
Engery-Related Grants Available to Farmers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement that $2 million will be made available to dairy, beef, poultry and swine producers to help cut energy-related production costs is a positive step that can produce long-term savings for dairy farmers, according to Richard Clauss, vice chair of the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy and a dairy producer from Hilmar, Calif. “In these tough … Read More
Farm Bill Hearing to Focus on Dairy Policy
Looking ahead to 2012, the House Agriculture Committee will be holding its first farm bill hearing Tuesday in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and the focus will be on federal dairy policy. The Dairy Policy Action Coalition (DPAC) reports that dairy producers around the surrounding area will be attending the hearing and they are urging all dairy farmers to attend and “show support … Read More
NMPF CEO Addresses Price Support
Take a moment to read the recent CEO comment by National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Jerry Kozak. It contains important information about the future of the dairy product price support program (DPPSP). Read the full column here. In the 12 years I’ve been CEO of NMPF, we have vigorously defended the function and importance of the price support program. It’s … Read More
Meatout Day Fall Out in Michigan
The manure really hit the fan in the office of Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm this week as ag groups and meat lovers protested over the governor’s proclamation of Michigan Meatout Day. The controversy started on Tuesday when the proclamation appeared on the governor’s website calling on the people of Michigan to observe Meatout Day on March 20, which just happens … Read More
Ohio Wants Dairy Label
A U.S. Senate candidate in Ohio is proposing that dairy products be labeled with their country of origin. Democrat Lee Fisher, Ohio’s lieutenant governor, says the move will create jobs in the dairy industry and help consumers find quality products. Fisher cited China’s February recall of 170 tons of milk powder after chemically contaminated milk products from a 2008 scandal … Read More