Contacts:
Diane Bothfeld, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3835
Kelly Loftus, Agency of Agriculture, (802) 828-3829

Friday, February 08, 2008

Barre, Vt - Vermont Dairy Farmers were recognized for the high quality of their milk at the Dairy Farmers Banquet held during the 74th annual Vermont Farm Show on January 31, 2008. Awards were presented to dairy farmers based on results in each of five quality categories. Overall scores then determined 1st, 2nd and 3rd runners up as well as the winner of the state’s Highest Milk Quality Award. The 2007 winner is the Meyer Family of North Hardwick Dairy – for the fourth year in a row! (a complete list of winners is available at www.vermontagriculutre.com).

There were 15 dairy farmers nominees for 2007, from all corners of the Green Mountain State, representing five cooperatives, independent handlers, and independent farmstead cheese makers in Vermont. Four of the nominees produce milk using organic management methods, one is a farmstead cheese makers the rest operate traditional dairy businesses in Vermont. As a group, the nominees exemplify the varied approaches Vermont dairy farmers take to showing that “Agriculture Means Business to Vermont”.

All of Vermont’s 1,097 dairy farms strive to produce high quality milk. The production of high quality milk begins with sound animal husbandry and the cleanliness of the cow and continues through the milking process including the cleanliness and maintenance of the milking and milk storage equipment. To maintain the production of high quality milk, attention to detail is a must with many farms monitoring milk quality on a daily basis. The production of quality milk takes exceptional management and is a 24-hour per day, 7 days a week for 365-day effort.

Vermont’s dairy farmers are professionals and innovators in their businesses, who benefit financially from their production of high quality milk. These dairy business professionals take advantage of all potential income for their milk by obtaining premiums for the quality of the milk. Premiums for quality milk production range from $0.10/hundred pounds of milk to $0.35/hundred pounds of milk, for the average size farm in Vermont that equates to an additional $2,000 to $7,000 per year in income. Dairy farms producing organic milk can reap even greater quality premiums that can top $2.00 to $3.00/hundred pounds of milk through different organic milk markets.

Vermont’s dairy farmers also take pride in the quality of the milk they produce. As business owners, they understand that their milk is a wholesome and nutritious product. Their efforts provide the best dairy products to meet the consumer demand.

The Vermont Dairy Industry Association has sponsored these awards for many years. The awards are given to dairy farmers who have documented, through laboratory analysis, farm inspections and sensory evaluation, the production of Vermont’s best quality milk. The nominees are judged on records provided by their milk handlers and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The nominees also provide a milk samples that is judged on flavor.

The Vermont Dairy Industry Association (VDIA) objectives are to work for the mutual benefit of its members, dairy farm families and the dairy industry. VDIA encourages and promotes close cooperation with educational institutions and other agencies concerned with the dairy industry.

Owner and or Business Name	Town	Cooperative/Milk Handler	Award	Special Award
Laurence & Alice Allen	Wells River	National Farmers Organization/ Organic	Certificate of Nomination
Andersonville Dairy LLP, Robert Young & Mark Rodgers	West Glover	Agri-Mark, Inc.	Certificate of Nomination	Lowest Pasteurized Count
Michael & Kellie Belisle	Highgate	St. Albans Co-op	Certificate of Nomination
Dale & Alma Briggs	Addison	St. Albans Co-op	Certificate of Nomination	Best Flavor (Tie) and Lowest P.I. Count
Thomas Debevoise & Laurie Livingston	S. Woodstock	Agri-Mark	Certificate of Nomination	3rd Runner up for Highest Milk Quality Award  &  Best Flavor (Tie)
Rene Fournier & Son Farm, Inc.	Swanton	Dairy Farmers of America/CROPP Organic Cooperative	Certificate of Nomination
Ron and Carol Gordon	Grand Isle	St. Albans Co-op	Certificate of Nomination
David and Tina Houde	St. Johnsbury	Dairylea/Horizon Organic	Certificate of Nomination	2nd Runner up for Highest Milk Quality Award
Andy and Mateo Kehler – Jasper Hill Farm	Greensboro	Independent Farmstead Cheesemaker	Certificate of Nomination	Lowest Standard Plate Count
Jockey Street Dairy LLC – Fred Sandra Stone	Pawlet	Agri-Mark, Inc.	Certificate of Nomination
Stephen/Patricia/Nick/Andrew/Taylor Meyer – North Hardwick Dairy LLC	Hardwick	St. Albans Co-op/ CROPP Organic Cooperative	Certificate of Nomination	Highest Quality Milk Award for Vermont, Lowest Somatic Cell Count
Patrick & Karen O’Donnell	Westfield	St. Albans Co-op	Certificate of Nomination
Kenneth and Beverly Robinson Robin’s Nest Farm	St. Johnsbury	Agri-Mark, Inc.	Certificate of Nomination	1st Runner-Up for Highest Quality Milk Award
Allen Savage	Orwell	Dairy Marketing Services	Certificate of Nomination
Lee & Lisa Terrier	Middlebury	Dairy Farmers of America	Certificate of Nomination