A - Z index of Programs and Services

Dairy Farm Revitalization Task Force

State Response to Dairy Crisis

Dairy Farmer Petition for Relief

List of retail Dairy Farms

Contact:

William J. Gillmeister, Ph.D.
Agricultural Economist
Mass. Department of Agricultural Resources
251 Causeway Street
Boston , MA   02114 -2151

Email: william.gillmeister@state.ma.us

Voice:  +(617) 626-1811
Fax:     +(617) 626-1850

Dairy Farm Preservation Act

Update!:

• On August 14, 2008 the Governor signed the Dairy Farm Preservation Act (St. 2008 c. 310). One of the provisions amends Section 9 of c. 90 by extending the number of miles a farm vehicle may travel on the Commonwealth's roads from two miles to ten miles. On November 7th, 2008 the Department sent out a mailing to all Town Clerks notifying them of these changes and to please alert all appropriate authorities of this change.
  
  
• The Dairy Farm Preservation Act established, among other things, the Farm Linked Loan Program. The thrust of the program is to provide low interest loans to farms in the Commonwealth. The funds for this program were to come from the Commonwealth's consolidated net surplus if the surplus was above a certain amount. The Comptroller announced that the amount of the consolidated net surplus fell short of the required amount. That is, no funds are available for the Farm Capital Linked Loan Program. So while the authority for the program remains, no loans are possible for the foreseeable future.
  
  

If you have questions, contact William J. Gillmeister, William.Gillmeister@state.ma.us, (617) 626-1811.

Dairy Farm Preservation Act -  Chapter 310 of the Acts of 2008 [PDF]

Related Resources:

Agri-Mark Cooperative

Dairy Market News

Dairy Practices Council

Federal Milk Market Administrator, Region I

International Dairy Foods Assoc.

USDA Dairy Programs