State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker invited dairy producers to participate in a Dairy Policy Forum, hosted by the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team (NEDLT), in conjunction with the state agriculture departments from New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. The Forum will be held on June 1, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Best Western in Albany.

“The viability of the dairy industry in the Northeast depends largely on the policy decisions that will be made at the federal level,” the Commissioner said.

“Therefore, we are offering producers the opportunity to hear what national dairy leaders are saying and recommending, in hopes of identifying key policies that the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team can advocate for in a collective manner from each state’s vantage point.”

National dairy policy leaders and influencers have been invited to address key issues and recommendations being considered for dairy policy in the 2007 Farm Bill.

Representatives from the National Milk Producers Federation, International Dairy Foods Association, and Northeast Council of Cooperatives have all been invited to participate, as well as Farm Bureau and Farm Credit representatives from New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

Anyone with an interest in dairy policy is invited to attend the Dairy Policy Forum on Friday, June 1, 2007. To register for the Forum, contact the Center for Dairy Excellence at 717-346- 9905. Registration is free of charge. Registrations can also be faxed to 717-705- 2342 or e-mailed to pwitmer@state.pa.us.