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Searching 2021-2022 Session

2021-2022 Session

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Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry

Print

Previous Meetings - Full Report

Summary Report
Monday, May 3, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Introductions

Election of Officers
Review of Task Force Charge

  • Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
9:30 AM

Department of Financial Regulation

Act 129 (2020) Report - Vermont Dairy Industry Price Regulation - Assessment and Recommendations

  • Jill Rickard, Director of Policy, Department of Financial Regulation
10:00 AM

Committee Discussion and Planning

10:30 AM

Adjournment

Monday, June 7, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Introductions

9:10 AM

Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

  • Diane Bothfeld, Director of Administrative Services & Dairy Policy, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  • E.B. Flory, Dairy Section Chief, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  • Laura Ginsburg, Agricultural Development Section Chief, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  • Anson Tebbetts, Secretary, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
10:15 AM

Break

10:30 AM

Agrimark

  • Catherine DeRonde, Vice President, Agri-Mark
11:00 AM

Dairy Farmers of America

  • Leon Berthiaume, Senior Advisor, Dairy Farmers of America
  • Kiersten Bourgeois, Business Development and Communications Manager, Dairy Farmers of America
12:00 PM

Adjourn

Monday, July 12, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Overview of Task Force work

  • Sen. Robert Starr, Co-Chair
9:10 AM

Milk Purchasers in Vermont

  • Rolf Carlson, Commonwealth Dairy
  • Catherine DeRonde, Vice President, Agri-Mark
  • Tom Gates, Values Led Dairy Specialist, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream
  • Cheryl Pinto, Values Led Sourcing Manager, Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream
10:40 AM

Break

10:50 AM

Milk Purchasers in Vermont

  • Mateo Kehler, Owner, Jasper Hill Farms
  • Jon Rooney, Owner, Monument Farms Dairy
11:50 AM

Planning next meeting

12:00 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Small Farm Producers

  • Andy Birch, Maple Grove Farm, Derby, VT
  • Joanna Lidback, Wheeler Mountain Farm, Barton, VT
  • Mary White, Fort Waite Holsteins LLC, Corinth, VT
9:55 AM

Medium Farm Producers

  • Rebecca Manning, Manning Dairy Farm, St. Albans, VT
  • Stephanie Pope, North Wind Acres Farm, Shoreham, VT
  • Brett Urie, Shadagee Farmstead, Craftsbury Common, VT
11:00 AM

Large Farm Producers

  • Clara Ayer, Fairmont Farms, East Montpelier, VT
  • Reg Chaput, Chaput Family Farms, Troy, VT
  • Will Gladstone, Newmont Farm, Bradford, VT
12:00 PM

Adjournment

Monday, September 13, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Secretary's Assessment of the Vermont Dairy Industry

Update on farmers shipping to Horizon Organic

  • Diane Bothfeld, Director of Administrative Services & Dairy Policy, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  • E.B. Flory, Dairy Section Chief, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  • Anson Tebbetts, Secretary, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
9:20 AM

Organic Farmers

  • Abbie Corse, Owner, Corse Family Farm
  • Leon Corse, Owner, Corse Family Farm
  • Jennifer Lambert, Vice President, Orange County Farm Bureau
  • Peter Miller, Organic Farmer
10:40 AM

Break

10:50 AM

Overview of Organic Farming in Vermont

  • Nicole Dehne, NOFA - Vermont
11:10 AM

Organic Dairy Processors

  • Travis Forgues, Executive Vice President of Membership, CROPP Cooperative
12:30 PM

Organic Standards

  • Tom Berry, Policy Advisor on Agriculture, Conservation, Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Sen. Leahy
  • Ed Maltby, Director, Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance
Monday, September 27, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

9:10 AM

In-State Analysis and Proposals For Change

  • Stacy Cibula, Agriculture Director
  • Steven Collier, General Counsel, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  • Paul Costello, Executive Director, Vermont Council on Rural Development
  • Liz Gleason, Director, VHCB Farm and Forest Viability Program
  • Jennifer Hollar, Director of Policy and Special Projects, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board
  • Ellen Kahler, Executive Director, Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
  • Gil Livingston, Former President, Vermont Land Trust
  • Anson Tebbetts, Secretary, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
11:15 AM

Break

11:25 AM

Cooperative Initiatives

  • Catherine DeRonde, Vice President, Agri-Mark
  • Jim Mulhern, National Milk Producers Federation, Inc.
12:40 PM

Public Comment

1:00 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Milk Hauling Issues

  • Barney McConnell, Director of Transportation, Dairy Farmers of America
10:15 AM

Status of under-utilized dairy capacity

10:30 AM

Dairy Statistics on VT Milk Shipments

  • Brian Riordon, Chief Economist, Federal Milk Market Order #1
12:00 PM

Introduction to Maine Tier Payment Program

  • Julie-Marie Bickford, Maine Dairy Industry
  • Tim Drake, Executive Director, Maine Milk Commission
1:00 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

9:10 AM

New Market Opportunities and Consumer Choice

  • Michael DeAngelis, Vice President of Integrated Communications, New England Dairy
  • Rene Thibault, Public Relations and Communications Specialist, New England Dairy
10:00 AM

Break

10:25 AM

New Market Opportunities and Consumer Choice

  • Adeline Druart, President, Vermont Creamery
11:15 AM

New Market Opportunities and Consumer Choice

  • Rick Smith, CEO and President, Dairy Farmers of America
11:55 AM

Regulatory Environment

  • Abbie Corse, Member, Vermont Climate Council
  • Billy Coster, Director of Planning and Policy, Agency of Natural Resources
  • Ryan Patch, Deputy Director, Water Quality Division, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
12:40 PM

Risk Management

  • Jeremy Forrett, Senior Vice President, Crop Growers/Farm Credit East
1:00 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

9:10 AM

Overview of Task Force work

Co-Chairs report

9:35 AM

Task Force Members' Proposals

10:35 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Roundtable Discussion

  • Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Amy Richardson, Richardson Family Farm, Hartland, VT
12:00 PM

Adjourn

Monday, December 20, 2021
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Introductions

9:10 AM

Presentation of Report

  • Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
9:30 AM

Task Force Discussion

10:30 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Task Force Discussion

11:30 AM

Submit Report and Draft Legislation

12:00 PM

Adjourn

Monday, August 29, 2022
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Overview

Task Force Charge and Task Force recommendations from 2022 report

  • Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
9:45 AM

Overview

Status of Vermont Dairy Farming by Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets

  • Diane Bothfeld, Director of Administrative Services & Dairy Policy, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
10:45 AM

Break

11:00 AM

Continue Testimony

  • Diane Bothfeld, Director of Administrative Services & Dairy Policy, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
11:30 AM

Future Meeting Plan

12:00 PM

Adjournment

Monday, September 12, 2022
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

  • Dan Smith, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
  • Sen. Robert Starr, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
9:15 AM

Overview of Regulated Producer Pricing

  • Christopher Wolf, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University
10:30 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Overview of Regulated Producer Pricing

(continued)

11:45 AM

Concluding Comments

12:00 PM

Adjournment

Monday, September 26, 2022
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

  • Dan Smith, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
  • Sen. Robert Starr, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
9:15 AM

Milk Production and Processing in Vermont

Vermont dairy industry structure and how this market structure might conceptually support a state order-order milk price regulation, and a handler fee/tier payment system.

  • Dan Smith, Former Founding Executive Director, Northeast Dairy Compact Commission
10:15 AM

Break

10:30 AM

Milk Production and Processing in Vermont

Continued

11:15 AM

Legality of State Pricing

Presentation of Report by Brandon Denning on the legality of a Vermont state order-order milk price regulation, and a handler fee/tier payment system

  • Brandon P. Denning, Starnes Professor of Law, Samford Law School (Birmingham AL)
11:45 AM

Concluding Comments

12:00 PM

Adjournment

Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Comments
POSTPONED to 10/24/22
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

  • Dan Smith, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
  • Sen. Robert Starr, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
9:15 AM

Pricing Milk for State Milk Market Regulation

  • Dan Smith, Former Founding Executive Director, Northeast Dairy Compact Commission
10:50 AM

Break

11:00 AM

Environmental Requirements and Costs of Dairy Farming in Vermont

  • Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
11:45 AM

Concluding Comments

12:00 PM

Adjournment

Monday, October 24, 2022
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

  • Dan Smith, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
  • Sen. Robert Starr, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
9:15 AM

Pricing Milk for State Milk Market Regulation

  • Dan Smith, Former Founding Executive Director, Northeast Dairy Compact Commission
10:50 AM

Break

11:00 AM

Environmental Requirements and Costs of Dairy Farming in Vermont

  • Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
11:45 AM

Concluding Comments

12:00 PM

Adjournment

Monday, November 14, 2022
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

9:05 AM

Economic Issues on Vermont Farms

Small Farms

  • Andy Birch, Maple Grove Farm, Derby, VT
  • Abbie Corse, Corse Dairy Farm, Whitingham, VT
  • Joanna Lidback, Wheeler Mountain Farm, Barton, VT
  • Mary White, Fort Waite Holsteins LLC, Corinth, VT
10:10 AM

Economic Issues on Vermont Farms

Medium Farms

  • Stephanie Pope, North Wind Acres Farm, Shoreham, VT
  • Brett Urie, Shadagee Farmstead, Craftsbury Common, VT
10:30 AM

Economic Issues on Vermont Farms

Large Farms

  • Kylie Quesnel Chittenden
  • Will Gladstone, Newmont Farm, Bradford, VT
  • Steve Kayhart, Kayhart Brothers, Vergennes, VT
  • Amanda St. Pierre, Pleasant Valley Farm, Richford, VT
12:00 PM

Adjournment

Monday, December 5, 2022
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

9:10 AM

Milk Pricing Alternatives for Vermont

Administrative regulatory procedures the State could use for a state pricing program

  • Sen. Robert Starr, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
9:30 AM

Milk Pricing Alternatives for Vermont

Input on a state over-order pricing program for Vermont milk

  • Catherine DeRonde, Vice President, Economics and Legislative Affairs , Agrimark
  • Travis Forgues, Executive Vice President of Membership, Organic Valley
  • Mateo Kehler, Owner, Jasper Hill Farms
  • Jon Rooney, Monument Farms Dairy
11:15 AM

Break

11:25 AM

Milk Pricing Alternatives for Vermont

Input on a state over-order pricing program for Vermont milk

  • Rolf Carlson, procurement, Stonyfield
11:45 AM

Concluding Comments

Committee Discussion

12:00 PM

Adjournment

Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Introductions and Comments

  • Daniel Smith, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
  • Sen. Robert Starr, Co-Chair, Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
9:15 AM

Increased Funding for Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC)

Task Force discussion

9:30 AM

Recommended Legislative Draft Pricing Legislation

Task Force discussion

  • Michael O'Grady, Deputy Chief Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
10:45 AM

Break

11:00 AM

Recommended Legislative Draft Pricing Legislation

Continuation of Task Force discussion

12:00 PM

Adjournment

2021-2022 Session

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Task Force to Revitalize the Vermont Dairy Industry
  • Main Committee Page
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Members
  • Sen. Robert Starr
  • Sen. Randy Brock
  • Rep. Michael Marcotte
  • Rep. John O'Brien
  • Heather Darby
  • Jackie Folsom
  • Nick Richardson
  • Dan Smith
  • Linda Leehman, Committee Assistant
  • Information for Witnesses
  • List of Witnesses

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