Legislative Agricultural Chairs VII
State
Agriculture and Rural Leaders
Resolution
2009-05
Resolution in
Support of the US Dairy Industry
WHEREAS: the
dairy industry is a keystone
industry which not only supports rural communities but enhances other
sectors
of agriculture, providing open space for recreation, sportsmen and
women, and
tourism; and
WHEREAS: the
dairy industry provides an economic
impact of an estimated $14,000 per cow per year, primarily in the local
economy; and
WHEREAS: the
lack of stable prices, concentration
of process and capacity, outdated regulations and labor shortages are
creating
a crisis in the industry; and
WHEREAS: a
significant loss of capacity would
create a dependence on imported milk and other dairy products and
reduce our
nation's food security; and
NOW
THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED:
that State Agricultural and Rural Leaders urge Congress and the
administration
to acknowledge the importance of the dairy industry nationwide, as well
as the
unique aspects of the dairy industry region by region through:
- Funding and implementing the federal
milk marketing order study as outlined in the 2008 Farm Bill, with
regional
representation from producers, processors and state policy makers; and
- Implementation of fair tariffs on imported dairy solids; and
- Setting
regional prices to reflect accurately and realistically the cost of
production; and
- Addressing the problems of labor shortages within the dairy industry by providing more opportunity for training and education, as well as a fair and sensible approach to imported labor; and