Hard work brings opportunities

The first year of my tenure on the Dairy Business Association’s board of directors was an enlightening experience. Particularly eye-opening was the behind-the-scenes work accomplished on behalf of the dairy community.

Every week, DBA staff members are responding to multiple events, news stories, government rules/regulations and members’ calls for help all while maintaining a flow of positive and accurate information for customers, dairy owners and legislators. Not a small task.

While there is not always a specific piece of legislation that is creating headlines, the challenges the dairy community faces with government rules, restrictions and compliance are always in the forefront of the work that is being done. In the past year, John Holevoet, director of government affairs, has been working on issues like high-capacity wells and vegetative treatment areas, livestock siting rules and farm labor.

Monitoring issues and providing legislators and regulatory staff with information about the impact of policies and rules does not start and stop with our government affairs team. DBA has broadened its scope.

We are supporting sustainability initiatives like farmer-led watershed programs and other progressive efforts, and connecting our members to resources for help. Yahara Pride Farms and Peninsula Pride Farms are good examples. So are customer-facing projects, such as the Wisconsin Agricultural Education Center, which will directly engage the non-farming public.

Our public relations efforts aim to show people how dairy foods are produced and to highlight their value. We also connect with the public through the news media and explain the effects of legislation and policies on dairy farms and other parts of the food chain.

A new emphasis on social media has opened a dialogue with customers by engaging people who have no connection to dairy farming.

This all leads back to getting the true message to legislators and rule-makers from not only the dairy community, but from customers and constituents.

It seems our efforts are bearing fruit. At January’s conference, Dairy Strong 2017: The Journey Forward, Lt Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch said, “If we declare to the world that we’re the Dairy State, we need to do everything we can to support our dairy industry.” The support includes road infrastructure, access to water and having enough workers – all of which are important to the dairy community.

With support like this, this year should provide us with multiple opportunities to grow and sustain the dairy community.