Dairylea Cooperative Member Appointed to National Dairy Advisory Committee

(Syracuse, NY) Earlier this month, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of 17 members to a federal Dairy Industry Advisory Committee. The committee was designed to review the issues of farm milk price volatility, dairy farmer profitability and consolidation. They will offer suggestions on ways the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) can best address the needs of a struggling dairy industry.

Among the appointed producer representatives was Dairylea Cooperative Inc. member Erick Coolidge of Wellsboro, Penn.

“I applaud the Secretary and those involved in this process,” Coolidge said of his appointment, “and I am humbled, at best, at the opportunity to serve.”

Coolidge has almost 45 years of experience in the industry, as owner and operator of Le-Ma-Re Farm, a 700-acre, 240-head dairy farm located in Coolidge Hollow. The dairy is truly a “family-run farm” with wife Dixie and son Derick involved in the farm operation and management. In addition to his everyday work on the five-generation farm, Coolidge serves as Commissioner of Tioga County, Penn. In that role, Coolidge is responsible for all aspects of county government.

He has served in a number of agricultural and governmental leadership positions. He is also an established vocalist and 38-year member of the Wellsboro Men’s Chorus.

Coolidge is excited about the opportunities provided by this committee.

“We are facing unprecedented challenges as an industry today and I don’t think more time can pass without a resolution – not just a kneejerk reaction but a methodical response.” Coolidge hopes to assist the committee in addressing the peaks and valleys of the industry by working toward solutions that provide stabilizing forces to the volatile dairy industry.

Coolidge was nominated by, among others, U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-Howard. Coolidge recounts that Congressman Thompson felt it was important to have someone nominated who still had his hands in the business, referring to Coolidge’s active role on the farm.

Clyde Rutherford, President of Dairylea Cooperative, expressed pride over Coolidge’s appointment.

“Dairylea strives to set itself apart as a strong cooperative with dynamic membership and I am happy to say that Erick is personification of that strength,” Rutherford said. “We are pleased to support Erick as a member of this prestigious committee, and we are excited that he will be representing us.”

In the same way, Coolidge remains proud of his relationship with Dairylea.

“The people at Dairylea have my undivided regard and respect,” he said. He plans to utilize the resources provided by Dairylea.

“Anyone involved [in this process], myself included, needs to try to gather as much information as I can from those who can help bring us to that resolve.”

In the official USDA release following the announcement of the committee, Secretary Vilsack said “The members of this committee come from all aspects of the dairy industry… This will assure that I hear from a diverse group with the expertise to address the issues and concerns that dairy farmers are struggling with today.”

Dairylea Cooperative Inc. is a farmer-owned agricultural marketing and service organization with more 2,300 member farms. They are the largest

milk-marketing organization based in the region, selling more than 5.5 billion pounds of raw milk annually through an extensive milk-marketing network.

Dairylea Cooperative Member Appointed to National Dairy Advisory Committee

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