• The Milk Regulation Board must adopt regulations to assure milk produced in the state is of at least standard quality and that state residents have an adequate and regular supply of it. The board may, by regulation, establish inspection standards for the facilities and processes necessary for producing, handling, storing and manufacturing retail raw milk, retail raw milk cheese, butter, cheese, dry milk, whey, concentrated milk, condensed milk, single service fluid milk enclosures and milk products.

• In exercising its authority, the board must consider (1) the welfare of the milk producer, the milk dealer and the consuming public, and the need to maintain a constant and adequate supply of fluid milk of at least standard quality and (2) the recommended methods promulgated by recognized authorities for the production, handling and transportation of fluid milk and milk products, and additional methods for the production, handling and transportation of milk and milk products, among other things.

• The board consists of two members actively engaged in milk processing, two actively engaged in selling and distributing milk, two actively engaged in producing milk, and two who have no active or financial interest in producing milk. The governor appoints all eight members. The public health commissioner, or his designee, and the agriculture commissioner are also board members.

1. In your opinion, is there an adequate supply of milk in the state for state consumers?

2. The Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact was established in 1996 by the federal farm bill. Connecticut and five other states agreed to enter into the compact. Compact members set a minimum price for fluid milk that could exceed the price the federal government sets in its marketing order.

How have state dairy farmers and consumers faired since the compact expired in September 2001?

3. Some argue that grocery stores reap unfair profits on milk, while dairy farmers are occasionally pushed to the verge of bankruptcy by the price they are paid for milk. Are grocery stores and other retailers taking advantage of consumers while state dairy farmers struggle?

4. Is the state properly protected from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (or “mad cow” disease)?

5. Cows may be treated with several antibiotics; Milk is tested for a few. How would you decide what to test for in milk?

6. Public Act 05-130 required the Milk Regulation Board to conduct a comprehensive study of the state's dairy industry and submit a report on it to the Environment Committee by January 1, 2006. If you worked on or have seen that report, could you summarize some of its recommendations?

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