After being approved for over ten years, the recent move to ban rbST use caught us by surprise. It seemed in the distance, since the movement was occurring on the east and west coasts. Then, in September 2006 we came face to face with the issue when our local co-op board (Prairie Farms) began discussing a ban on rbST use.

For over two months, no official information was given to the membership by the co-op leaders. Dairymen were left only to rumors, not knowing if, when or how a ban would take place. At that time, we decided to learn all we could and let our thoughts be known. This has led us down an interesting path.

Following the lead of other dairymen in the U.S., we organized a producer meeting with two objectives. The first was to get the facts on all sides of the issue in the hands of the farmers. The next goal was to empower and motivate them to get involved in the decision making process. Dr. Terry Etherton, Head of the Dept. of Dairy and Animal Science at Penn State, presented the science of rbST at a producer meeting that we held in Breese, IL in December, 2006. He presented interesting information about consumer attitudes on biotechnology and rbST, as well as market studies on what is driving this movement. Ed Mullins, CEO of Prairie Farms Dairy, gave their official plan for a segregated milk supply and a potential premium for non-rbST use. Attendance exceeded most expectations, with 137 people total and over 65 dairy farms represented. Interest in the question and answer session was high with lively discussion.

What have we learned? Most importantly is to be aware and involved. We have heard terms like “we have to provide what the consumer wants.” While this is true, we are quite sure that the consumer is not behind this issue. The desire for corporate profits is mainly driving the rbST ban while the dairyman’s interests are put on the back burner. We must balance our attention to the production side of our business with being alert and involved in the marketing and promotion of what we produce. We challenge every dairyman to remain watchful and take action on these concerns:

1. To be aware of consumer trends and sort through the rhetoric on what the consumer really wants.

2. To be aggressive in telling the great dairy success story of productivity and nutrition.

3. To be watchful of the acceptance of technology and vigilant in assuring that science is the primary factor in evaluating it’s use.

4. To be involved in the marketing of our milk and hold leadership and management accountable to the members of our co-ops.

We believe that dairyman have in their hands a tremendous amount of clout. We have all too often underestimated our power. First, we are the producers of the raw product that is needed for the rest of the industry to make their margin. They can’t have milk, cheese or other dairy products without a cow and we own the cows. We need to use this fact to get their attention. Secondly, we found out, that in the public eye the average farmer is well respected and if we present a positive message we can certainly influence public opinion.

Frank Doll
Doll’s Dairy
Pocahontas, IL
dolldairy@papadocs.com

Boyd Schaufelberger
Schaufine Farms
Greenville, IL
schaufine@papadocs.com

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