Task Force Issues Recommendations for Helping Maine Dairy Farmers

Nov 13, 2024

By Kaitlyn Budion

A state task force to support Maine's commercial dairy farms is recommending that the Dairy Tier Program be fully funded. The program offers supplemental payments to farmers when the price of milk falls below the cost of production.

The task force suggests that it may be necessary to find new revenue streams for funding and increase the annual baseline.

"And I just think we're in a position where if we don't fully fund the program, we're going to see farms leave the industry," says Annie Watson, an organic dairy farmer, president of the Maine Dairy Industry Association and a member of the task force. "It's unfortunate because it is a program that does work and is working but it would work so much better if it were fully funded."

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Video: Optimizing Piglet Gut Health for Performance - Dr. Marco de Mik

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, we revisit a conversation with Dr. Marco de Mik, Senior Consultant at Schothorst Feed Research, who explores how to enhance gastrointestinal health in piglets for optimal growth. He shares his expertise on how feed formulation, stomach function, and gastrointestinal health directly impact the pig’s growth and development. Learn how to balance nutrient absorption, reduce diarrhea risks, and optimize feed performance. Tune in on all major platforms!

Click here to read the full research article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles...

"The stomach is the first barrier to kill bacteria, and it’s crucial for storage, digestion, and antibacterial functions. All of these contribute to overall gastrointestinal health."

Meet the guest: Dr. Marco de Mik / mdemik holds a veterinary medicine degree from Utrecht University and an M.Sc. in Animal Nutrition from Wageningen University. With over a decade of experience in swine nutrition, he currently works as a Senior Consultant at Schothorst Feed Research. He specializes in feed formulation, animal physiology, and metabolism.