By Karen Ross, California Agriculture Secretary - - I am committed to working with the dairy industry to find long-term solutions. That is why I am forming the California Dairy Future Task Force. Last week, invitations were issued to 32 dairy farmers, cooperatives and processors to serve on the task force. It is imperative that task force members begin work as soon as possible and strive to develop recommendations by the end of the year. All task force members and dairy stakeholders are being asked to familiarize themselves with a report by global management consultant Mc Kinsey and Company, which was commissioned by the California Milk Advisory Board in 2006 and provided concepts for long-term sustainability and industry growth over a 20-year period. The report is a common starting point upon which our task force can begin to build. (more) Sept. 4, 2012 CDFA