Experts with Wisconsin Ties Will Hold 4 of 17 Committee Positions, Out of 400 Nominated Nationwide

WASHINGTON – Four prominent agriculture experts with Wisconsin ties have been appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Dairy Industry Advisory Committee at the request of Senator Herb Kohl, the USDA announced today.  The Committee will be tasked with reviewing the issues of farm milk price volatility and dairy farmer profitability, and providing suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can best address these issues to meet the dairy industry’s needs.  The four Kohl nominees joining the Committee are:

• Rod Nilsestuen, the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

• James Goodman, who operates a 45 cow organic dairy farm and has been active in Vernon Electric Coop, the Midwest Organic Service Association and the Wisconsin Sustainable Agriculture Task Force

• Ed Welch, who has worked for the Associated Milk Producers Inc for the last 26 years. 

• Robert Wills, the owner/operator of the Cedar Grove Cheese Factory and PhD economist

          “Wisconsin’s dairy interests will have strong advocates and tremendous representation on the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee.  Each of these people brings a wealth of experience, expertise and understanding to this new initiative, and I congratulate them on their selection,” Kohl said.

Last August, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced his plans to form the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee to respond to urgent challenges in agriculture and rural economies, and to look for long-term solutions to keep the industry competitive and viable.  Kohl, who is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, had submitted these four names, among a group of other highly qualified Wisconsinites, to Secretary Visack for consideration on October 13^th 2009.  The Committee members will serve a two year term.