WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Kohl announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Dairy Industry Advisory Committee will meet on June 3-4 in Washington D.C.  This will be the second meeting of the Advisory Committee and it will focus on farm milk price volatility, dairy farmer profitability, current federal dairy policy and new policy proposals from dairy industry groups. Four prominent agriculture experts with Wisconsin ties serve on the USDA Dairy Industry Advisory Committee.            

"Last year was not a good year for dairy producers across the country and the markets have been slow to recover this year.  The Dairy Industry Advisory Committee was created to look at existing policy and make long-term recommendations to keep the industry competitive," Kohl said. "I am proud to have four highly qualified individuals with Wisconsin ties serve on the Advisory Committee."  

The Advisory Committee was established on January 6, 2010. It's tasked with providing the Secretary of Agriculture policy recommendations to address price volatility, dairy farm profitability and other issues impacting the dairy industry.   

The four Kohl nominees that serve on 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.                                                             # # #