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Agriculture
USDA/US DOJ Dairy Workshop
Planting our crops is a great effort and expense, planning, preparing, and
then waiting for favorable conditions. Positive results are essential to our
livelihood and the decision to proceed usually comes down to common sense
and gut instinct, conditions have to be just right, waiting is difficult and
time is money.
Since 1970, we have seen the number of dairy farms in this country drop from
648,000 to the 54,000 remaining today. We have seen the consolidation of a
number of small farms result in 1 large farm.
To read more
click here
The Producer's Voice
We
rely on history in our search to move forward, it recounts lessons of our
success and failure and is littered with the many experiments, which put us
here today. Some of the problems we face today result from yesterday's
solutions and literally glare at us waiting for a response in order to move
forward, a lack of response confines us to facing the result of our current
dilemma in a repetitive cycle of crisis after crisis.
To read more click
here
Dairy Solution Requires Balance
US dairy farms will produce 190 billion lbs of milk this year exceeding
current demand by 4%,
market response to this national
oversupply has taken the price of milk per cwt from last year's high of
$23.50 to its present low of $10.50 the
farmers' cost of production is $17.50 cwt.
In their struggle to survive
deplorable economic conditions over the past 6 months, dairy farmers across
the nation have converted a lifetime of accumulated equity into $4.5 billion
worth of loans. Included in this struggle are businesses within our
communities which represent the infrastructure of rural America and
characterize Vermont. To read more click here.
U.S. Senate Judiciary
Hearing on Dairy Pricing
The U.S. Senate Judiciary
Committee conducted a hearing on Dairy Pricing in St. Albans Vermont during
September of 2009. I was honored to be asked to present testimony.
To read my testimony click here
or
Select this link to view
the testimony.
Farmers Need to Take Charge
On Monday, October 6, Alltech, a world supplier of products which enhance
animal nutrition and health, hosted The Global 500 Dairy Expo. The event was
a gathering of dairy farmers and industry representatives from 30 countries
around the world, over 400 people were in attendance. To read about the
Global 500 Dairy Expo click here.
U.S. Senate Agricultural Committee Field
Hearing
On March 12, 2007 the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture held a field
hearing on the 2007 Farm Bill, in Montpelier, Vermont.
I was asked to give testimony for the
Vermont Farm community. To read my testimony click
here.
Land Conversions
Today we recognize the importance of environmental
stewardship as never before. Our common goal: To protect our natural
resources. It is of critical importance that we proceed with rules designed
to address our environmental needs but perhaps of greater importance, to put
things in a context which effectively meet the needs of everyone involved.
To read more click here.
Supply Management Tools
Desperate to eliminate a milk surplus of nearly 4%, dairy farmers now
recognize their lack of control over the market and face reality with only
two options, either produce milk or go out of business. Dairymen operating
well below their cost of production recognize the current surplus has cut
their milk check in half. Three months ago the dairy industry questioned
national acceptance of a supply management program, today dairymen expect
one. To read more click here.
National Consensus
The Northeast Dairy Summit held on March 20, 2009 in Burlington, Vermont
organized by Dairy Farmers Working Together (DFWT) gathered 250 industry
leaders from across the nation. Farmers are becoming aware that consensus on
otherwise divisive issues, which have held the dairy industry captive for
many years, would allow political leadership to move forward with a long
overdue national effort.
To read more click here.
How Do you Stop a Crisis?
While it is recognized that markets fluctuate, our need for a milk market
finds us producing for some that are volatile. Last year's export market of
nearly 11% quickly disappeared causing an over supply of milk which invited
our current situation. We need to identify stable markets for our product,
manage our supply to meet demand, and discourage a market surplus through
price. To read more click here.
Vermont's Economy
I strongly believe we can
stimulate the Vermont economy by electing effective legislative leadership
capable of recognizing the needs of business. Presently our infrastructure
is deteriorating, our tax base is shrinking and we're not experiencing
meaningful job growth. The first thing we need to do is decide if we are
open for business. Our permit process sends a signal to potential investors,
few of which are willing to gamble a large investment in Vermont...........
To read more click here
Climate Change
We aren't sure of the extent
to which mankind influences climate change, but we do recognize the
importance of protecting our environment and natural resources. I have
invested a great deal of time and money in renewable energy ventures. My
family has supplied woodchips to electric generating facilities for 30
years......... To read more click here
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