STAND | Workshop, Dairy Farmers

Peer Support and Social Networks

"We are planning to create support systems that encourage peer and social networking. With strong support systems in place dairy farm families and employees will be encouraged to create a health life balance."

Responsible partners: Anne Lee (Anne Lee Dairy), Joelle Monaco (Mental Health Association of NYS)

Task	Due Date	Progress
Utilize new and existing events and services to connect farmers, families, and employees.	March 2019 and ongoing	On Hold
Conduct community resource assessment to connect partners.	December 2021

Environment

"We are encouraging farmers to continue to use environmental stewardship practices and programs that will ensure continued access to clean water, soil, and air."

Healthcare

"Farmers, employees, and families have accessible, affordable, culturally competent, interdisciplinary, quality healthcare."

Responsible partners: Travis Hall (Community Memorial Hospital), Jackie Leaf (NYS Association for Rural Health), Jen Collins (Collins Knoll Farm), Erin Summerlee (Rural Health Network of SCNY), Christine Tauzel (J&J Tauzel Farms), Susan Williams (Seven Valleys Health Coalition), Patrick O'Hara (NYCAMH), and Joe Simko (NYS Office of Mental Health)

Task	Due Date	Progress
Connect with NY Rural Health Foundation regarding promotion and resources.	March 2019	The Rural Health Network of South Central New York has developed a Rural Cultural Competence Training Module that has been presented on different occasions. There will be a discussion on a broad roll out throughout the OMH CNY region, and beyond potentially in the future. A few County Directors of Community Services in north country have shown interest in making Rural Cultural Competence a topic of their Annual North Country County Director's retreat in September 2019.
Research and compile existing cultural competency resources for use by healthcare providers.	March 2019	The OMH CNY Field Office is re-structuring their Cultural Competence Committee to include a Rural Cultural Competence sub-committee. This sub-committee will promote information, resources and expand awareness of rural cultural competence with the long term goal of increasing access and awareness of behavioral health science in rural areas. This sub-committee will work closely with the Suicide Prevention sub-committee to address/target suicide prevention in rural and farming communities.
Identify factors related to farmer health engagement of farm families and employees.	December 2021
Conduct research about motivational and practical connections to healthcare.	December 2021

Business Planning

"We plan to enhance the educational outreach and increase partnerships of business planning services. We are working to gather evidence and data to ensure the sustainability of business planning services."

Responsible partners: Julie Sorensen (NYCAMH), Erica Leubner (NY FarmNet), Kate Downes (NY FarmNet), and JoBeth Rath (AgrAbility), Judy Graham (NYCAMH)

Task	Due Date	Progress
Compile a list of business planning services.	March 2019	NY FarmNet is compiling a list of business planning services.
Convene a stakeholder meeting to identify service gaps and overlap.	Meeting date to be set by March 2019	NYCAMH contacting Farm Bureau, Cornell, and Ag and markets to identify an existing meeting where this question can be discussed.
Gather evidence to sustain and encourage business planning services.	March 2019	NY FarmNet has developed materials (brochures, PPTS, one-pagers to highlight business planning services available through their organization). NYCAMH advertises FarmPartners program through the website, brochures and other stakeholder partners.
Create and make available evidence-based business planning documents.	December 2019	Business planning documents developed by the University of Minnesota: Center for Farm Finanical Management are available from the NY FarmNet website at http://agplan.umn.edu/
Increase awareness of business planning services.	January 2020	NY FarmNet services and NYCAMH services are promoted by NY Ag and Markets, Cooperative extensions, FSA, NY Farm Bureau and other Ag Service Providers.

Regulations

"We are planning to improve industry involvement in the regulatory process to ensure workable regulations, including reporting requirements."

Responsible partners: Elizabeth Wolters (Farm Bureau), Miquela Hanselman (Cornell School of Public Health), Lucy Shepard (NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets)

Task	Due Date	Progress
Understand and evaluate current systems of communicating regulatory information and receiving farmer feedback.	March 2019	On Hold
Develop coalition of agricultural organizations to better communicate feedback to regulators.	December 2021

Milk Pricing

"We are in need of milk price reform. This reform will address the imbalance of cost of production to pay price to dairy farmers."

Responsible partners: Elizabeth Wolters (NY Farm Bureau), Sarah Gillette (Upstate Niagara), Glenn Bullock (FSA), Bruce Hausman (Will-O-Crest Farm)

Task	Due Date	Progress
Continue the discussion on how to reform milk pricing.	April 2019 and ongoing	NY Farm Bureau continues to be active on the Commissioners Milk Marketing Advisory Council, School Milk Task Force and engaging on trade and other policy.
Encourage new product development, increased demand for dairy products, expanded markets, balanced supply and demand, and diversification of farms.	December 2023-2028
Examine current milk marketing.	December 2023-2028	NY Farm Bureau has successfully submitted a resolution to their national organization to actively examine the Federal Milk Marketing Orders and due to this resolution American Farm Bureau Federation is convening a work group on the issue. American Farm Bureau Federation is currently in the process of selecting members for the group.
Order system to identify improvements.	December 2023-2028

Marketing and Consumer Education

"We are developing an effective and robust dairy marketing plan to provide: 1) an enhanced understanding and appreciation of the benefits dairy farms provide to community economics, land stewardship, and nutrition; 2) a showcase of NY family dairy farms (e.g. like Wisconsin and California); 3) an analysis of consumer trends to share within the NY dairy industry; 4) proactive community education on the plans in place to manage industry vulnerabilities (e.g. manure discharge); and 5) community invitations to farms."

Responsible partners: Tonya VanSlyke (NEDPA), Bethany Wallis (NOFA), Lisa Ford (Cayuga Marketing)

Task	Due Date	Progress
Launch an email chain to develop talking points on enhancing consumer understanding of dairy.	March 2019	On Hold until June 2019
Form a committee to develop a showcase project.	Develop committee by March 2019	On Hold until June 2019
Analyze consumer trends to share annually and collect feedback.	March 2019 and ongoing	On Hold until June 2019
Develop programs and ideas for community education on vulnerabilities.	March 2019 and ongoing	On Hold unti June 2019
Develop a connection to bring consumers onto the farm.	March 2019 and ongoing	On Hold until June 2019
Determine if funding is necessary for education and outreach.	June 2019

Education, Research, and Technology

"We facilitate access, use, and development of technologies that increase efficiency and sustainability of farms, including expanding broadband access and related market and dairy product innovation."

Responsible partners: Frank Welcome (Cornell), Julie Berry (Pro Dairy), Nicole Tommell (Extension)

Task	Due Date	Progress
Identify barriers to broadband implementation in rural communities.	March 2019	On Hold
Identify entities responsible for providing innovation and research, development, and training.	March 2019	On Hold
Improve information development and access.	March 2019	On Hold
With effective broadband access, increase implementation of online programs.	December 2021
Increase diversity and success in production of dairy products.	December 2021

Workforce

"We will engage with federal legislators and agencies to develop a viable, easy to use and navigate guest worker program. We will provide age and place appropriate tools and resources to educators, industry leaders, and farmers to create awareness of agriculture and food production, agricultural careers, and relevant skills. We will put systems and programs in place to support farmers and employees with resources, tools, and training to maintain and grow farm employee skills and knowledge."

Responsible partners: Dave Gruysenmeyer (NYFVI), Betty Getty (Farmer, NYCAMH Contractor), Crystal Grimaldi (Ideal Dairy)

Task	Due Date	Progress
Encourage farmers to engage with legislators.	ASAP	Actively encouraging farmers and farm organizations to reach out with any concerns.
Develop online training for dairy employees.	December 2021 and ongoing
Develop a database of dairy industry education and career materials appropriate for a variety of audiences.	December 2021 and ongoing

STAKEHOLDERS TEAM UP FOR ACTION IN NEW YORK DAIRY (STAND)

Steering Committee Members

Kate Downes

Travis Hall

Michael Rosman

Julie Sorensen

Pam Tinc

NYCAMH Stand Conference

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