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

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Bar Harbor, ME - At its annual meeting in Maine on June 8th, Secretary Roger Allbee of Vermont was unanimously elected President of the Northeast Association of the State Departments of Agriculture. This Association of Commissioners and Secretaries of Agriculture from the ten Northeastern States (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and the six New England States) work on issues both regionally and nationally of common interest to the States.

During the meeting the group discussed a number of issues of interest to the states including food safety, environmental stewardship, regional food security, trade policies, buy local initiatives, invasive species and other issues.

Extensive discussion took place on the dairy industry and polices. The group unanimously endorsed resolutions that called for reform of national dairy policy to include the flooring of Class 1 pricing so that dairy farmers in the region can receive a higher return for their milk. “All of my colleagues recognize the need for an economically vibrant dairy industry in each of our states in the Northeast and the contribution that these farms make to the local economy and our regional food security,” commented Allbee. “This is an issue that we are all unified on and we are committed in working aggressively with our Congressional delegation, our Governor’s, and others to address.”

The Northeast Region of the Commissioners is collectively part of the National Association of the State Departments of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. Secretary Allbee also chairs the dairy policy working group of the National Association.