According to the recent study reported by the Maine Dairy Industry Association, dairy is one of the top industries in Maine. With $570 million in business sales, $25 million in dairy-related tax revenue and a half million dollars’ worth of milk and cheese produced, how can Commissioner Bob Spear justify eliminating one of only three dairy inspectors for the state of Maine?

The state has spent 101/2 years and thousands of dollars training my husband to be a “dairy and cheese expert.” On any given day he could be advising future cheese makers, doing plant work at a dairy facility, inspecting cow, goat or deer farms, trouble-shooting for large dairy plants or small family farms.

Granted, the numbers of dairy farms are shrinking, but their size and value to the state is increasing. The number of ice cream makers, cheese producers, goat and deer farms is rapidly increasing.

Maine will be losing one of its most valuable dairy resources if we allow it to eliminate this position due to “budget cuts.” If the budget is so tight eliminate supervisory or management positions. Most of those people couldn’t do work on a pasteurizer or visit a farm to help “lower counts.”

The entire state only has three trained people to do this kind of work. We cannot afford to lose even one.

Angel R. Mehuren

Searsmont