"We small farmers are being discriminated against," said John Kinsman, a dairy farmer from LaValle, WI. He asked where the openness and transparency was that was promised by the new Administration. "Our urban counterparts are not aware of what is happening because the price has not changed in the grocery stores."
Rally organizers and participants strongly illustrated their solidarity with their neighbors milking conventional cows. "It would be profoundly positive for organic dairy if conventional producers were receiving a fair price for their milk," said Kastel. The price gap at retail, between conventional and organic fluid milk, is the largest in the history of the industry based on the crash of prices paid to conventional producers.
"We are quite heartened by the respectful appearance of Secretary Vilsack," added Kastel. "His response was 'spot-on' in terms of committing to a crack down on organic scofflaws and reforming the carryover-management at the USDA's organic program."
Rally participants said their most important message was to instill "a sense of immediacy" with the Secretary in terms of addressing the stepped-up enforcement actions that he has promised.
In addition to The Cornucopia Institute, the emergency organic dairy farmer rally was 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.
Those attending the rally brought organic food products for donation to a local food pantry and passed the hat for additional donations. Cornucopia's Kastel said they collected 50 pounds of non-perishable foods for donation as well as $125 that is being donated. A symbolic milk dump took place using some of the surplus as organic fertilizer and to feed hogs at the county fair.
Video of much of Secretary Vilsack's comments can be found here:
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/07/17/news/00lead.txt
WKBT-TV covers the rally:
http://www.wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10741162#
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