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The Dairy Industry Advisory Committee voted March 3 to approve a final report to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that offers recommendations concerning dairy farm profitability and milk prices.

The vote, which was held during a public meeting via conference call, supports a report that offers 23 public policy recommendations. 

“A tremendous amount of time and effort has been put into this report by members of the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee and I’m appreciative of their efforts and their willingness to dedicate time in support of the dairy industry,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The Dairy Industry Advisory Committee was chartered to review farm milk price volatility and dairy farmer profitability. The committee was asked to make recommendations to the Secretary on how USDA can best address these issues to meet the dairy industry's needs, both short and long-term. The committee also was asked to provide feedback on how actions taken by USDA in 2009 have affected the dairy industry.

For a written copy of the final report — which will be available in approximately 10 days — contact Solomon Whitfield at [email protected]. An electronic version of the current draft report can be obtained by visiting http://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_File/diac_final_rpt_0302.pdf.