Wisconsin Ag Connection - Organic Dairy Producers Planning Rally During Vilsack Visit

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Organic Dairy Producers Planning Rally During Vilsack Visit
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/13/2009

An organization representing organic dairy producers are hoping to get U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack's attention this week when he visits Wisconsin by holding a 'Save the Organic Family Dairy Farm Rally.' The Cornucopia Institute is holding the event on July 16 at the La Crosse Interstate Fair in West Salem. It immediately precedes a town hall meeting on rural issues with Vilsack, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The group claims that a glut of organic milk, fueled by giant factory farms, threatens to wash family farmers off their land.

"With the slowdown in the economy, the market is no longer able to absorb the growing supply of organic milk," says Mark Kastel, senior farm policy analyst with The Cornucopia Institute. "Processors have now cut the price of milk for farmers, and imposed production caps. Many family farmers are now in danger of losing their farms."

Kastel says Secretary Vilsack has been invited to say a few words to the farmers prior to the town hall session.

Meanwhile, organizers say that farmers will be bringing small quantities of their organic milk to "symbolically dump," to illustrate the falling value of their farms and their output. They are also encouraging all participants at the rally to bring non-perishable food items to share with others less fortunate.

Besides The Cornucopia Institute, the rally is cosponsored by: Family Farm Defenders, Center for Rural Affairs, Missouri Rural Crisis Center, Midwest Organic Dairy Producers Alliance, Church's Center for Land and People, National Family Farm Coalition, and the Interfaith Program Action Council.

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