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Moore votes to preserve dairy farms in Massachusetts
Senate offers assistance to state farms; focus on growth and technology June 13, 2008 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, D – Uxbridge, voted on Thursday to preserve Massachusetts dairy farms through recommendations made by the Dairy Farm Revitalization Task Force. The bill establishes the Massachusetts Dairy Promotion Board to boost the profile and operations of local dairy farms. “The bill aims to preserve the practice of farming in the Commonwealth,” said Moore. “It is essential to recognize the needs of one of the most important industries in Massachusetts, and this bill is certainly a representation of protecting those needs.” Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, said the bill will both improve and expand upon current dairy farm technologies and fund advertising and the utilization of advanced farming practices in the state. “It is our obligation to provide our dairy farmers with the assistance they need to stabilize and improve state agriculture,” President Murray said. “It’s an important industry for the Commonwealth, and this bill broadens the safety net recommended by the task force.” The dairy farm task force, a joint effort of the executive and legislative branches, completed its work last fall. Building upon the work of the task force, the proposed legislation will enable the Department of Agricultural Resources to offer technical assistance and funds to farmers, making them eligible for loans for up to $500,000. The bill makes good on the promise that President Murray made in her March 2007 inaugural address to maintain the Commonwealth’s agriculture industry and decrease the pressures of unfair regulations on farmers. “I applaud Senate President Therese Murray for her leadership on this issue, and I am thrilled that my colleagues have recognized the need to provide solutions for long-term sustainability for our dairy farmers in the Commonwealth," said Senator Stephen Brewer, D-Barre, lead sponsor of the bill. “Since July 2006, I have been working with Senator (Stanley) Rosenberg to ensure that the dairy farms, and agriculture as a whole, continue to be a part of the Massachusetts economy. I believe that we are getting closer to accomplishing the goals set forth by the Dairy Farm Revitalization Task Force, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to continue assisting the farming community.” Senator Rosenberg, D-Amherst, said: “I am pleased with the spirit of partnership and sense of urgency that has guided this process. Dairy farming is an important part of our way of life, especially in western Massachusetts, and the programs in this bill will help safeguard the industry.” Since 1980, the number of dairy farmers in Massachusetts has plummeted from more than 800 to fewer than 200. The bill will help preserve existing dairy farms and promote the industry as a legitimate and essential career choice for future farmers. The legislation will also establish a commission to analyze and recommend options for improvement of new farming technologies. This bill will now go the House of Representatives. |
