USDA established the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee in August 2009. The purpose of the Committee is to review the issues of farm milk price volatility and dairy farmer profitability and provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary on how USDA can best address these issues to meet the dairy industry’s needs.

On January 6, 2010, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the appointment of 17 members to serve on the committee. The members were selected from more than 300 nominations representing producer and producer organizations, processors and processor organizations, handlers, retailers, consumers, academia and state agencies. The committee will hold a public meeting in early 2010.