USDA press release
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that as part of USDA’s continuing efforts to listen to and respond to the needs of producers in the dairy industry he is moving forward on establishing the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee and is requesting nominations.
“The Obama Administration is committed to working with all sectors of the dairy
industry to develop changes to the dairy pricing system to avoid the boom and
bust cycle behind the crisis facing many dairy farmers this year,” said Vilsack.
“The input provided by the members of this committee will play an important role
in building a more stable market for dairy producers for years to come.”
Earlier this month, Secretary Vilsack promised to move forward with
establishment of a charter creating the committee for two years. Once appointed,
the committee will review the issues of farm milk price volatility, and dairy
farmer profitability. The committee will also offer suggestions and ideas on how
USDA can best address these issues to meet the dairy industry’s needs. USDA is
establishing the committee under the authority of the Federal Advisory Committee
Act of 1972.
The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint up to 15 representatives of the dairy
industry to serve in an advisory capacity on the Committee. Representatives will
include: producers and producer organizations, processors and processor
organizations, handlers, consumers, academia, retailers, and state agencies
involved in organic and non-organic dairy at the local, regional, national and
international levels.
Written nominations must be received on or before September 28, and should be
sent to Judith Lindsay, secretary to Brandon Willis, Deputy Administrator, Farm
Service Agency, Farm Programs, USDA Room 3612-S, Stop 0501, Washington, D.C.
20250-0501; faxed to (202) 720-4726; or e-mailed to: judith.lindsay@wdc.usda.gov
Advisory committee members will elect the chairperson and vice-chairperson who
will each serve a two-year term. As Deputy Administrator of the FSA Farm
Programs, Willis will serve as the committee’s executive secretary.
Details will be published in the August 28 Federal Register. More information on
the committee is available at www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/DairyAdvisoryCommittee.
