Press Releases

Industry-Wide Crisis Program in Place to Help Protect Dairy's Image

PHILADELPHIA (September 28, 2007) – As demonstrated with the recent incident of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the United Kingdom, the U.S. dairy industry must be poised to address potential animal health, natural disaster or other situations that could impact dairy product sales.

Through their promotion investment, dairy producers lead an industry-wide crisis preparedness plan that aims to minimize the impact of a potential crisis and maintain consumer confidence in dairy products, dairy farmers and the dairy industry.

Recently, Dairy Management Inc.™ (DMI), which manages the national dairy checkoff program, conducted two crisis drills to refine national and local crisis response plans and enhance risk communications skills in the event of a disease outbreak in the United States. Several members of Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association's staff, which represents local dairy farmers, participated in the training to enhance and develop their crisis communication skills.

Additionally, to help ensure that the dairy industry works in coordination with governmental efforts, experts from several governmental agencies, including the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, and the Center for Agriculture Security, participated in the drills to demonstrate how government and industry must work together in the event of a crisis.

"The dairy checkoff first developed crisis preparedness programs in 2001, following the devastating FMD outbreak in Great Britain," said Patricia Purcell, CEO of Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association. "Since then, we've reached out to emergency responders and others to make sure our response is consistent with those of government agencies.

"You can't put a price tag on the industry's crisis preparedness efforts. Dairy producers can rest assured that their promotion investment is working hard to protect consumer confidence in dairy products," Purcell said.

In addition to annual crisis drills, dairy checkoff efforts include www.dairyresonse.com, which provides producers with resources, guidelines and other tools to help farmers communicate about animal health and farm safety issues with the public.

Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association is the local planning and management organization funded by dairy farmer checkoff dollars. Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™ and is responsible for increasing demand for U.S.-produced dairy products on behalf of local dairy farmers. For more information, visit www.dairyspot.com.