Dairy Iowa working to strengthen vital industry
By Jean Caspers-Simmet
simmet@agrinews.com
Date Modified: 02/02/2012 9:12 AM
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WAVERLY, Iowa —Dairy Iowa is the new name for the Dairy Outlook initiative, which has been under way since last spring.
The initiative is an attempt to strengthen the state's dairy industry, said Larry Shover, who chairs the effort.
Shover summarized Dairy Iowa's progress at the recent Iowa State Dairy Association meeting in Waverly. The group's mission is to "be a unifying effort to support and promote Iowa's dairy farmers, industry, communities and consumers."
Shover said its vision is to ensure a diversity of successful, profitable dairy farmers whose sustainable systems allow them to take the best care of their animals and land. Dairy Iowa also aims to strengthen communities and economy with a thriving, innovative dairy industry and build trust with consumers, leaders and legislators.
Dairy Iowa will develop and deliver an array of "wholesome, delicious and convenient products that will increase dairy consumption and improve the nutrition, health and fitness of dairy consumers," Shover said.
Dairy Iowa will work to conduct "leading-edge research, offer top-notch education and develop innovative technologies that will benefit all sectors of Iowa's dairy industry."
Shover said the initiative started with Joe Lyon of Toledo, chairman of the Iowa Division of Midwest Dairy Association "as a way to get a better bang for our promotion dollars and bring all segments of the dairy industry together." The effort picked up on the work done by the Iowa Dairy Coalition, which has been meeting for about 10 years.
Shover, Lyon, Lyon's brother Tom, also a dairy industry leader; Leo Timms and Chris Mondak from ISU and Wayne Dykshorn and Jessica Bloomberg from the Iowa State Dairy Association organized an April 11 meeting for dairy producers and industry leaders. That was followed by strategic planning sessions in Ames.
Shover said Midwest Dairy Association, ISU and ISU Extension, dairy cooperatives, the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and Northeast Iowa Community-Based Dairy Association, producers and industry leaders have worked very hard on the process.
"We've had a broad variety of people involved, and it has strengthened the experience," Shover said. "We hope to increase the interest, and anyone who has not been involved, we invite you to join the process."
Five focus committees are at work — consumer education, opportunities, profitability, innovation and economic development. Beginning farmer efforts, creating dairy profit teams and publishing a dairy economic impact study are some of the projects under way.
A steering committee, which oversees the process, has crafted mission and vision statements and is creating a logo.
"Iowa will rebound in dairy compared to other regions," Shover said. "It's great that we have a number of young people here today. They are vital to the industry. I believe that dairy farming is one of the very best ways for young people to get into farming."
Shover thanked everyone who has helped.
"We are trying to structure this as a coordinating organization with the Iowa State Dairy Association as the central organization and the Western Iowa Dairy Alliance and Northeast Iowa Community-Based Dairy Association cooperating. Dairy has much to offer for the nutrition and health of our people and can invigorate and sustain Iowa's economy. Dairy Iowa hopes to help in this process by helping our remaining and potential dairy farmers."
The next Dairy Iowa meeting will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 in Ames.