Dairy Advisory Committee announced during Rural Tour stops in Central Valley

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan continued President Obama’s Rural Tour across America with a stop in Modesto, California. The Rural Tour hosted a community forum at the Stanislaus County Agriculture Center in the heart of the Central Valley and one of the largest agricultural regions in the country.

In their first joint appearance on the Rural Tour, the Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Merrigan stressed the importance of helping California and made it clear that Administration was aware of the struggles facing the Central Valley. Also appearing on stage were Congressman Dennis Cardoza and California Secretary of Agriculture A.G. Kawamura.

The questions and comments from the audience focused on the obstacles facing the dairy industry. Secretary Vilsack announced the formation of the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee and urged forum attendees to nominate candidates from the Central Valley. Once appointed, the committee will review the issues of farm milk price volatility, and dairy farmer profitability.

Linda Lopes, local farmer and president of California Dairy Women called for dairy support prices to be higher and extended and asked that a price floor be put in place.

“I understand what you need and we are going to do everything we can to help out,” stated Vilsack.

In addition to dairy issues, invasive species concerns topped the agenda. Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers highlighted the vulnerability of local crops to invasive species and importance of border protection.

Over 400 attendees to the forum resulted in an over-flow room with a live two-way feed from the primary forum. Secretary Vilsack extended the forum by spending an additional 20 minutes addressing the over-flow crowd in person.

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