LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to support the United States dairy economy in this time of impend-
ing crisis

WHEREAS, The dairy industry is a keystone industry which not only
supports rural communities, but enhances other sectors of agriculture,
providing open space for recreation, sportsmen/women, and tourism; and
WHEREAS, The dairy industry provides an economic impact of an esti-
mated $14,000 per cow/per year, primarily in the local economy; and
WHEREAS, The lack of stable prices, concentration of processing and
capacity, outdated regulations and labor shortages are creating a crisis
in the industry; and
WHEREAS, A significant loss of capacity would create a dependence on
imported milk and other dairy products and reduce our Nation's food
security; and
WHEREAS, The 2008 Farm Bill creates a review process for federal milk
marketing orders; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body joins the State agricultural and rural
leaders in acknowledging the importance of the dairy industry nation-
wide, as well as the unique aspects of the dairy industry region by
region by: funding and implementing the federal milk marketing order
study as outlined in the 2008 Farm Bill, with regional representation
from producers, processors, and State policy makers; implementation of
fair tariffs on imported dairy solids; setting regional prices to
reflect accurately and realistically the cost of production; and
addressing the problems of labor shortages within the dairy industry by
providing more opportunity for training and education, as well as a fair
and sensible approach to imported labor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to support
the United States dairy economy in this time of impending crisis, and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.