While on a recent trip to D.C. with the U.S. Dairy Farmers and Friends to speak with House Representatives and Senators about the Dairy Industry crisis, not only did we educate the elected officials we talked with, but we got an education ourselves.

Our day started out good, hopeful even, after we went to the National Farmers Union. Here the lobbyists and workers are very aware of the dairy crisis and its causes. They offered helpful hints to us on speaking with elected officials. The National Farmers Union is an organization that the dairy farmers are in desperate need of. I thought it was similar to any other workers union, except this one is for the sole purpose of protecting and preserving American farming. Their lobbying might be our best hope in coming up with something accommodating in the 2012 Farm Bill. So far, there is no NY Chapter, only a Northeast Chapter.

We then continued on to deliver a four part message to anyone who would listen. This four part message consisted of 1) create a temporary floor price of at least $18/cwt on all milk. 2) audit cold storage reports and begin transforming a flawed system which determines the milk price 3)import MPC’s as a food, and include taxation, inspections, origin labeling and testing 4) put into place a fair milk discovery with a supply management system.

To us, these four points seems as simple as common sense. We quickly found that some elected officials either have a hard time understanding the complexity of the dairy industry (any normal person does) or perhaps have already been won over by wooing corporate (Kraft or Dean Foods to name a few) executives, who probably do more than just come in their office and have 10 minutes to deliver a message (golfing, fancy dinners, corporate events, you know, the usual). It’s a bit funny to think that people like me can throw words around that even an elected congressman didn’t know. Funny for a minute, then pretty scary. It’s quite clear that many of those who have their paws in on the U.S. Farm Bills do not know the ins and outs of how dairy farming works, they couldn’t tell you how the milk price is determined, or even why the government is involved in it.

Alas, all this negativity, there was, and is, a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a small one, and the tunnel is up a steep hill, but it’s there. We rode away with the satisfaction that we DID delivery our message to elected officials and their aides. More people know about it. It was easy to see we made an impact. For a small bus of farmers wandering around the capitol buildings, all of the elected officials and aides knew why we were there. Even the ones we didn’t meet with knew we were there to impress how bad the dairy crisis is.

This showed us quickly that this battle is going to take many baby steps. Everyone must be involved. If you milk cows, it is your duty and right to at the least write in to your representatives and voice your concerns. They do listen. Now is a good time as they begin talks for the 2012 Farm Bill in March 2010. Keep up the pressure, if possible, take a trip to D.C. meet with your representatives, make them see your faces and hear your words. That is what they will remember when they are writing the 2012 Farm Bill. If we don’t speak up, corporate execs are the only ones who will. It can be very frustrating to attend a town hall type gathering, and you leave feeling disappointed, but the more the dairy crisis is brought up, the more it’s thought about, and the farther we’ll get in this campaign!

Send your message not only to the government, but any consumer. Tell your friends, tell your children's schools, 4-H groups, FFA groups, your grocer, insurance man, get everyone involved in spreading this message. If more consumers demand wholesome American dairy products, you’ll take a baby step in securing some kind of future for farming. Start getting involved today to help change the future of farming!

Call us or the U.S. Dairy Farmers and Friends (315-858-0163) if you would like handout or contact info. National Farmers Union at http://nfu.org/ or phone (202) 554-1600. Remember to focus on the current issues and the

future solutions!