Dairy Leaders Schedule Two-Day Hearings

January 31, 2000

A "Dairy Producer Conclave," created by the National Milk Producers Federation, will hold a series of two-day sessions around the country this spring to determine producer views on various issues affecting dairy farmers.

The conclave intends to develop consensus among dairy farmers on issues that have divided the industry in the past. In addition to NMPF, the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, National Farmers Organization and National Grange are involved.

Five regional meetings will be held this spring to obtain information from dairy producer organizations on the issues affecting the economic outlook for dairy farmers. They will be held in Atlanta, Dallas, Minneapolis, Sacramento and Syracuse. Dates have not been set, but NMPF expects the meetings will be held between March and May.

The nature of the issues has not been determined, but a steering committee has said the issues should be arranged in a series of three or four specific categories. The categories then will be discussed at the regional meetings. The categories are expected to include dairy product standards, animal health, environment, trade and economic policy.