rBST Voices for Choices Survey      About this survey… dairy producers who subscribe to DairyBusiness magazines and who provide e-mail addresses were surveyed in January 2007.      Voices for Choices is a campaign launched by DairyBusiness Communications, aimed at creating industry support for producers’ opportunities to use safe and approved technologies and for safeguarding the image of all milk as a natural and wholesome product. To add your voice or for more information, visit www.dairybusiness.com/voicesforchoices/ Or contact: JoDee Sattler, e-mail <jsattler@dairybusiness.com> or phone 800-561-2941.

Results for All Publications

1.How aware are you of the request from some milk buyers to purchase milk from cows not supplemented with rBST?
Not aware		0%	0
Somewhat aware		5%	20
Aware		27%	97
Very aware		67%	241
Total Respondents			358
(skipped this question)			0

2.What is the status of rBST (FDA-approved product named POSILACr) use in your herd?
Currently using		48%	172
I've signed an affidavit and rBST is no longer used on my farm		16%	60
Not currently using		34%	124
Total Respondents			356
(skipped this question)			2

3.What is the name of the cooperative handler or processor that buys the milk produced on your farm?
Total Respondents			340
(skipped this question)			18

4.What if anything regarding rBST has been requested of you by your milk buyer?
Has not requested anything of me		59%	208
Has offered me the choice of using rBST or not		23%	81
Has required a signed affidavit affirming I wont ues rBST		17%	61
Total Respondents			350
(skipped this question)			8

5.If your milk buyer has requested from you milk produced without rBST how would your milk payment be affected?
A higher hauling charge or deduct would apply (if I dont give up rBST)		9%	11
No premium would be offered		34%	42
Premium would be offered up to 50 cents per cwt		52%	64
Premium would be offered above 50 cents per cwt		3%	4
Total Respondents			121
(skipped this question)			237

6.If your buyer has offered a premium for milk produced without rBST what is the length of time this premium payment is guaranteed?
No length of time guaranteed		86%	93
Between three and six months		0%	1
Between six months and one year		4%	5
More than one year		7%	8
Total Respondents			107
(skipped this question)			251

7.How likely do you believe it is that any reductions in the freedom to use FDA-approved products such as rBST may impact your ability to use other technologies such as antibiotics reproductive synchronization hormones etc.
Very Likely		32%	113
Somewhat likely		36%	125
Somewhat unlikely		16%	56
Very unlikely		14%	49
Total Respondents			343
(skipped this question)			15

8.How concerned are you regarding the negative impacts of inaccurate claims on milk labels such as 'Antibiotic and Hormone Free' to the consumption and reputation of milk as a safe and wholesome product?
Very concerned		66%	226
Somewhat concerned		21%	73
Slightly concerned		7%	24
Not all concerned		5%	19
Total Respondents			342
(skipped this question)			16

9.Please tell us your level of agreement with the following statement: 'I would like my cooperative / milk buyer to take a more active role in supporting producer choices of FDA approved technologies.'
Strongly agree		37%	129
Agree		40%	140
Disagree		16%	58
Strongly disagree		4%	16
Total Respondents			343
(skipped this question)			15

10.Please tell us your level of agreement with the following statement: 'I would like my cooperative / milk buyer to take a more active role in supporting the image of all milk as a safe and wholesome product.'
Strongly agree		75%	262
Agree		19%	68
Disagree		3%	11
Strongly disagree		1%	5
Total Respondents			346
(skipped this question)			12

11.How much influence does your cooperative / milk buyer have with its processor customers on the issue of rBST-free milk?
No influence		13%	44
Some influence		54%	179
Very significant influence		26%	87
It can dictate terms to the processor		5%	19
Total Respondents			329
(skipped this question)			29