Dairy Gal Val in the News
Dairy Gal Val is always putting the dairy industry in the Spotlight!
What do young producers want to see in the 2023 Farm Bill?
“If we could see some updating in the Dairy Margin Coverage Program, the production levels are very outdated. The Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage Program, I believe, there could be some updating as far as production concerns. Operations are not nearly the same now as they were 10 years ago. I think that seeing an update in that program would be very, very beneficial to dairy farmers,” said Valerie Lavigne.
WORLD DAIRY EXPO INTERVIEW: DMI’S DOUG CARROLL AND VAL LAVIGNE
Doug Carroll and Val Lavigne discuss some of the projects funded by the dairy checkoff through Dairy Management, Inc. during the 2023 World Dairy Expo.
The Face of Farming: Celebrating Cabot’s Women Farmers
Anyone who knows Cabot farmer Val Lavigne knows that family and farming are her two greatest loves. And they know she has seemingly endless energy to devote to both. Val, and her husband, Greg, have twin daughters, Nora and Sadie who are almost 7 years-old, and a son Owen who is four years-old.
Val’s parents, Unc and Kris Brock are first generations farmers who own and operate Unc Brock Farm, a 626-acre operation in Schaghticoke, NY that thrives on diversity with a mix of Thanksgiving turkeys, laying hens, meat chickens, milking goats, horses, and of course, 200 milking cows.
LOVE OF FARM, FAMILY MOTIVATES YOUNG COOPERATORS LEADER
Lavigne also discusses the challenges of being a younger farmer and why she’s leading the YCs, which since 1950 has provided dairy leaders with a better understanding of issues facing farmers and their co-ops. This week, the YC program is hosting its capstone event in Washington, combined with the program’s annual fly-in to Capitol Hill.
Two Farmers From Opposite Ends of the Country Discuss Challenges Facing Their Dairies
(Farm Journal)
New DMI Board Member Brings Unique Skillsets to the Table
Lavigne is quite involved with her local milk cooperative, Agri-Mark, and has served as the Young Cooperator (YC) Vice President.
“As one of the three officers, I got to sit in on the board meetings and learn how the co-op runs,” she shares, explaining that the YC’s got to interact with board members.
“It’s all very eye-opening, especially right now with the FMMO pricing changes,” she says.
Lavigne loved being part of Agri-Mark’s YC program where she has been able to get a glimpse of what other co-op members are challenged with and overall, how to bring value for dairy in the Northeast.