BUREAU OF DAIRYING 

 DAVID L. SHELDON, CHIEF 



Throughout the 1984 fiscal year the Bureau of Dairying has diligently 

 pursued its main objective of ensuring the consumers of Massachusetts an ade- 

 quate quantity of fresh fluid milk with an overall quality level second to no 

 other state. 



We were able to bring our staff up to the authorized total of fifteen per- 

 sons, which is only one less than we had been authorized two years ago. Our 

 office secretarial staff remains at two persons; however, we are becoming more 

 productive in the office as procedures are adjusted for increased efficiency. 



Our main workload as authorized by Chapter 94 of the General Laws involves 

 the inspection of dairy farms and milk plants shipping into Massachusetts 

 markets. Our effectiveness was greatly enhanced when we were able to fill the 

 vacant positions. We now have one resident inspector in New York State, two 

 resident inspectors in Vermont, one in New Hampshire and one in Maine. 



The Bureau has had requests for information on the requirements to sell 

 aseptic milk in Massachusetts from dairy companies located in the States of 

 Georgia, California and Utah. Current Chapter 94 Laws, which regulate the sale 

 of fluid milk products in Massachusetts, do not allow the sale of aseptic milk 

 and if the issue were forced, we would have to send inspectors to these distant 

 locations to inspect the farms and plants. 



The Interstate Milk Shipper's Program generated a great deal of interest 

 and work for our Bureau with requests for eight separate I. M.S. ratings coming 

 into our office. We are continuing to make a concerted effort to comply with 

 the requirements of the Interstate Milk Shipper's Program and keep the inspec- 

 tion status of our Massachusetts producers at a level of compliance, which 

 satisfies all persons concerned. 



The Chief of the Bureau met with all persons involved with the Mastitis 

 program at Amherst to try and improve the program for our Massachusetts dairy 

 farmers. Several good ideas were exchanged and as a result of the meeting, a 

 survey form has been drafted to use on all participating dairy farms, in an 

 attempt to cover all aspects of potential problems causing Mastitis. This form 

 is now in use and our field people report initially that it seems quite helpful 

 in identifying problem areas. 



The Mastitis Laboratory reports that they have approximately 350 

 Massachusetts dairy herds involved in the Mastitis program. 



The Bureau continued its cooperative program with the USDA and spent a 

 total of 26 days sampling milk powder and nine days conducting inspections at 

 the Agri-Mark, Inc. plant. West Springfield. The combined powder sampling and 

 inspection program for USDA netted a total of $3,028.62 which was returned to 

 the state Department of Food and Agriculture by USDA. 



The number of producers in Massachusetts continues to decline. On July 1, 

 1983 we had 772 producers holding Certificates of Registration. This figure has 

 declined to 727 producers holding Certificates of Registration on July 1, 1984. 



Total milk production had been up slightly each year even with the drop in 

 producers; however, with the dairy diversion program in effect we expect that 

 our production will be level to slightly declined. 



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