Dairy Association members pass resolutions
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
simmet@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 02/16/2012 9:37 AM
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WAVERLY, Iowa — Members of the Iowa State Dairy Association passed resolutions on youth agricultural work, Iowa's fencing laws, agricultural structure inspections, a dairy income safety net and animal health and welfare at its recent annual meeting in Waverly.
Members approved a resolution supporting programs that allow youth to work in an agricultural environment to gain knowledge and experience in production agriculture. The organization opposes creating any mandatory farm labor permitting or licensing of youth.
ISDA supports Iowa's current fencing laws and encourages each bordering landowner to reach a written agreement regarding their border fences at the time of sale or transfer of land and file them with the county recorder.
The organization supports the exemption of agricultural structures from mandatory state electrical and plumbing inspections.
With Congress debating legislation to eliminate existing dairy safety net programs and replace them with a risk management program, ISDA delegates supported a resolution to modify the proposed Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program to provide lower producer premiums for the first 4 million pounds of production.
Delegates passed a resolution that supports telling the public the positive message about animal care, sustainability and welfare in the dairy industry.
Members changed policy regarding the state beginning farmer tax credits offered to landlords who rent facilities to beginning farmers from income tax credits to property tax credits.
The delegates added to a previous resolution that supports Extension and Outreach by urging that high priority be given to restoring Extension funding so important services can continue to be provided.
The organization amended its immigration reform policy to encourage development a guest-worker program that ensures the continued availability of immigrant labor for all of agriculture.
Delegates amended a resolution supporting the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's continuing grading and inspection programs with no decrease in the number of inspectors or level of services.
ISU also added to their policy on unpasteurized milk marketing that "consuming unpasteurized milk has many potential health risks such as E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella and Campylobacter among others." ISDA supports the state's current law that prevents the sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk directly or indirectly to consumers.
For information about ISDA see www.iowadairy.org.