Trevor Tomkins, recently retired chief executive officer of Milk Specialties Global, has created a new, enterprise-based development organization. The official launch of venture | dairy will be celebrated May 1 at the Union League Club of Chicago. venture | dairy combines Tomkins’ executive experience and dairy science background. Promoting dairy as a powerful tool for growth around the world, particularly in emerging markets, venture | dairy works to improve milk production and quality, generate income, create jobs, help businesses grow and communities develop.

Proposed federal legislation would give dairy farmers tax credits and savings incentives to keep up with the booming upstate New York yogurt industry. New York leads the U.S. in production of Greek-style yogurt, which requires three times the amount of milk than regular yogurt. Several firms have already opened or are planning large new Greek-style yogurt plants from Fulton County to Western New York.

The Missouri Dairy Association (MDA) has joined a coalition of 27 dairy farmer organizations supporting the Dairy Security Act in the 2012 Farm Bill. In a letter to Senators Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; and Pat Roberts, Ranking Member of the Committee, the coalition stated: “It is time to reform federal dairy policy by enacting the Dairy Security Act (DSA) as part of the next Farm Bill. Over the past several years, the dairy farmers represented by these organizations have suffered financially because of extreme margin volatility - dramatic swings in the difference between milk prices and feed costs. Our current dairy safety net policies are simply unable to be effective in this roller coaster of volatility.

Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Senate Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee held an informational session to educate Ag Committee members and their staffers on the role that dairy plays in Pennsylvania. Center for Dairy Excellence staff joined Jay Howes from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Tim Moyer from the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board and Justin Risser, a dairy producer from Bainbridge, Pennsylvania, to provide those in attendance with a 90-minute introduction to Pennsylvania’s dairy industry, the role it plays in Pennsylvania’s economy and in rural communities across the commonwealth, and the opportunities and threats that exist for today’s dairy farm owners. This month’s Center for Dairy Excellence column includes an abbreviated version of the comments Justin Risser provided before the Senate Ag Committee. All dairy farm families should consider sharing their story with key leaders in their communities and on the state and national level.

The movement to raise the voices of America’s farmers and ranchers and facilitate the dialogue about today’s food is gaining momentum. The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is a collaboration of more than 75 farmer- and rancher-led organizations and agricultural partners. The organization aims to create new ways for farmers and ranchers from all types of agriculture to reach consumers – whether that’s in the national news scene, popular culture or social media.