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

Monday, February 04, 2008

Montpelier, Vt – Agriculture officials in Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont have renewed a partnership to develop a vision and promote profitability in the Northeast region.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff, New York Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker and Vermont Agriculture Secretary Roger Allbee signed the agreement during a Northeast Dairy Leadership Team meeting Jan. 17-18 in Oneonta, N.Y.

“The leadership team has made significant progress in bringing together individuals from all aspects of the dairy industry to move our industry forward,” said Mark Kenville, New York Center for Dairy Excellence executive director. “Re-signing the memorandum of understanding renews our commitment to the initiatives and efforts established to support that movement.”

Before re-signing the agreement, Wolff, Hooker and Allbee reflected on the success of the three-state alliance.

“The collaboration between our three states has been very positive; giving us the opportunity to learn from each other and incorporate new ideas into our dairy support programs,” said Allbee.

Wolff agreed, “The relationships Pennsylvania has developed with Commissioner Hooker and Secretary Allbee and their states have proven to be very important – and, frankly, very enjoyable.”

“When the three of us spent time in Washington, D.C., representing a collective vision for the Northeast dairy industry, our impact was multiplied many times over,” Hooker added.

The leadership team also voted to support the National Dairy Animal Well Being Initiative, creating a national umbrella to allow dairy producers formally to document they are meeting dairy animal care and well-being standards.

As a result of the decision, the leadership team will identify qualifying programs and avenues for implementation of the initiative across Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont.

“The animal welfare initiative is a result of increased consumer interest and concern about how food is produced,” said John Frey, executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence. “Developing standardized management practices for our industry ensures the ongoing freedom to operate for dairy producers as well as access to markets for food marketers.”

The meeting also included a discussion about the impact of rBST-free milk labeling on the Northeast dairy market. The group worked to identify how the dairy industry can continue to protect other commonly-used technologies, ensuring producers the freedom to operate and providing access to growing markets for wholesalers and retailers.

Bill Byrne of Byrne Dairy, an independent, family-owned and managed dairy manufacturer in New York, stressed the need to defend current management practices.

“We must be prepared to explain what we do and why we do it,” Byrne said.

Discussions about raw milk sales in the region, a tri-state milk quality initiative, risk management tools for dairy producers, and concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFO, regulations and policies were also part of the two-day meeting.

“Increasing regulations for CAFO operations are having a significant impact on dairies across the state, but these regulations differ between states and between individual counties within states,” said Diane Bothfeld, director of the Vermont Dairy Task Force. “This meeting provided an educational opportunity for each state to share challenges and opportunities with other state leaders that may enhance our own practices.”

For more information about the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team and its January meeting, visit www.centerfordairyexcellence.org and click on “Industry” then “Regional Industry” and scroll down to the NEDLT section. In New York, contact Mark Kenville at 315-453-3823. In Vermont, contact Diane Bothfeld at 802-828-3835. In Pennsylvania, contact John Frey at 717-346-0849.