Dairy summit planned to brainstorm solutions

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is holding a dairy summit early this spring to try to come up with solutions to help the state's struggling dairy farmers.

The agency says dairy farmers are trapped in an antiquated federal milk pricing system and at the whim of a competitive global structure, with compensation being unpredictable and out of their control.

Officials say the state, congressional delegation, consumers and farmers need to work together to solve "this mammoth problem."

Farmers will be leading the Northern Tier Dairy Summit on April 1 and 2 at Jay Peak Resort. The conference will address production systems, opportunities for diversification or partnerships and building a coalition to strengthen Vermont farms. Officials say a supply management system will not be discussed.