The Board has two key responsibilities:
1. Ensure prompt and accurate payment to Pennsylvania's producers.
2. Administer a comprehensive milk pricing program that enhances the farm milk price, while at the same time providing a fair and competitive price for consumers.
The Board's regulatory influence plays a significant and valuable role in aiding Pennsylvania's dairy industry.
Robert N. Barley
Chairman
On May 18, 2018, Governor Tom Wolf named Robert N. Barley to the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board. Mr. Barley was unanimously confirmed by the State Senate on June 18, 2018.
Rob is a co-owner in Star Rock Farms, along with his brother Tom and cousin Abe, where they milk 1,500 cows, in addition to operating several other farm businesses which include crop farming, hog finishing, a broiler operation and custom cattle feedlot.
Rob is responsible for the financial aspects of the businesses, including banking relationships and legal and tax issues. Rob also manages the businesses’ human resources, with 60 people employed by Star Rock. Rob has also successfully worked to develop markets for Star Rock products and increase risk management efforts.
In addition to his role within Star Rock, Rob is currently a member of the Lancaster County Ag Council’s executive committee and serves on the Lancaster County Extension Board. He is a former board member of the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce and the Farm and Home Foundation.
Rob is the Ministry Council Vice Chairman and Missions Chairman at Grace Community Church of Willow Street. He and his wife Shelly have four children, ranging in ages from 15 to 26, and one granddaughter.
James A. Van Blarcom
Board Member
Jim Van Blarcom of Columbia Cross Roads, Bradford County, was unanimously confirmed by the state senate on June 17, 2014 to serve as a member of the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board.
Mr. Van Blarcom is a dairy farmer with 40 years experience in the Pennsylvania dairy industry. With his son and two sons-in-law, he manages a 500 cow dairy farm. Mr. Van Blarcom also owns, with his brother, a 5,600 farrow to wean hog facility.
Mr. Van Blarcom served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission from 2012 until his appointment to the Board. He also was a director of the Bradford County Conservation district from 1989 until his appointment to the Board, serving as chairman from 1999 to 2009. Mr. Van Blarcom’s public service also includes serving as a Troy Area School District Director and as a member of the Troy Area School District Foundation, of which he was a founding member, since 2003.
In addition to his public service, Mr. Van Blarcom has been active in dairy and agricultural organizations. He was a Bradford-Sullivan County Farm Bureau Director from 1990 to 2005, serving as County President from 1995 to 2005. Mr. Van Blarcom has also been a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau State Dairy and Natural Resources Advisory Committees. He has also served on the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council board.
Mr. Van Blarcom has also received the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Award and the Bradford County Conservation District Outstanding Operator Award.
“I am honored to be appointed and excited for the opportunity to serve Pennsylvania dairy families, citizens, milk dealers, and the entire Pennsylvania dairy industry,” Mr. Van Blarcom stated regarding his appointment.
Kristi Rooker Kassimer
Consumer Member
Kristi Rooker Kassimer of Smock, Fayette County, was unanimously confirmed by the state senate on June 15, 2021 to serve as the consumer member of the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board. Kristi resides on a 10-acre livestock farm with her sons Cohen and Wyatt, where they raise Boer goats.
Kristi owns and operates Kascom Media, a consulting firm focused on providing clients with strategic marketing and communications solutions. In particular, she works closely with the Fayette County Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce and Fayette County Agricultural Improvement Association, leading multiple public relations projects.
Kristi is the former Director of Marketing and Communications for the Pennsylvania Beef Council (PBC) In her role, Kristi implemented state retail and foodservice marketing programs promoting beef and veal. She also coordinated consumer and youth education events, developed state and national marketing campaigns, and managed the PBC's media relations efforts.
Prior to joining the PBC, Kristi worked at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) where she administered the PA Preferred® program, as well as the PA Fair Fund program. Kristi also served as the spokesperson for a variety of regulatory and marketing agricultural issues. While at PDA, Kristi was recognized as a 2009 Governor's Award for Excellence Nominee and a 2008 PDA Excellent Performance Award Winner. In 2013, she was honored as one of the Pennsylvania Business Central's "Foremost Under 40."
Kristi grew up on a beef farm and exhibited 4-H market steers, lambs and hogs. She is a 2006 graduate of California University of Pennsylvania where she received her BS in Graphic Communications Technology. Kristi proudly served as the 2004 Fayette County Fair Queen and went on to represent Pennsylvania as the State Fair Queen in 2005. She is currently a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Scholarship Foundation Selection Committee and Fayette County 4-H Professional Development Committee, as well as a Fayette County 4-H Beef Leader. Kristi also helped launch the World of Good Foundation and is active in Fayette County Red Cross Leadership and Asbury United Methodist Church.
Secretary
Betsy Albright
Betsy Albright is a certified public accountant with over 30 years of experience in the dairy industry. Betsy is a graduate of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. She began her career at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Philadelphia, PA. Prior to moving to central PA, she worked in the Banking and Building Products industries.
Betsy and her husband, Joe, raised three daughters while running two dairy farms and a public accounting practice. In 2005 she started at Harrisburg Dairies, Inc., in Harrisburg, PA. Harrisburg Dairies is a milk processing plant that processes milk from a large number of central Pennsylvania farms and serves the East Coast. Betsy served as the Chief Financial Officer while at the Dairy.
Most recently Betsy was with the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors serving as the Vice President of Finance.
Betsy has served on the boards of the Center for Dairy Excellence, The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation, Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders, the Pennsylvania Association of Milk Dealers, and Team PA.
Betsy resides in Perry County with her husband Joe.
Doug Eberly
Chief Counsel
The Milk Marketing Board implements and enforces the Milk Marketing Law and the Milk Producers' Security Act. Additionally, the Board enforces the regulations it promulgates pursuant to statutory authority and the official general orders it issues. In his position as Chief Counsel, Mr. Eberly is responsible for advising the Board Members and staff on issues requiring the application of legal principles, the interpretation of statutes and other mandates, and the observance of proper procedures.
Steven Zalman
Director of Enforcement and Accounting | IT Services
Steven is responsible for the planing, directing, and coordinating the enforcement and accounting activities throughout the Commonwealth.
Gary Gojsovich
Audit Supervisor
Gary is responsible for the daily supervision and direction of Milk Marketing Auditors throughout the commonwealth.
David Kuznia
Staff Counsel
David Kuznia is the Staff Attorney. The Staff Attorney advises Board Staff about the interpretation and implementation of the Milk Marketing Law, the Milk Marketing Fee Act, the Milk Producers' Security Act, Board regulations, Official General Orders, and other relevant laws and regulations. The Staff Attorney issues citations for violations of Board laws and regulations, represents Board Staff at hearings, reviews license applications and bonds, makes claims against bonds, and assists in promulgating and revising regulations.
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The first Milk Control Law was enacted January 2, 1934, amended April 30, 1935, and replaced April 28, 1937, when the Pennsylvania Milk Control Commission was established as a permanent state government agency. The creation of the Milk Control Commission was an outgrowth of the chaotic marketing conditions existing in the 1930s. During this time prices paid to milk producers fell to one dollar per hundredweight or lower. Home delivered milk was $.10 per quart. Pricing wars and destructive competitive practices were prevalent in many markets.
Since the original legislation, several amendments and improvements have been made. These changes allow Pennsylvania to manage more effectively the marketing of milk and promote the interests of Pennsylvania consumers. In 1968 the Law was amended and re-named the Milk Marketing Law.
In 1985 the General Assembly re-established the Milk Marketing Board (MMB) after conducting an extensive review of its functions pursuant to the Sunset Act. In conjunction with re-establishing the agency, the General Assembly once again made amendments to the Milk Marketing Law.
Today, the Pennsylvania Milk Board is an independent administrative agency designated to create stability in the marketing of milk by giving dairy farmers a fair and equal opportunity to market their milk. Payment for Pennsylvania-produced milk is guaranteed through the bonding of milk dealers and the Milk Producers’ Security Fund. The Milk Producers’ Security Act ensures prompt payment to Pennsylvania producers by requiring the establishment of a Security Fund and by requiring milk dealers who purchase Pennsylvania-produced milk to post security, in the form of bonds, with the Board. Currently, there is more than $3 million in the Security Fund and more than $100 million in collateral or corporate surety bonds.
The Board administers a comprehensive milk pricing program that enhances the farm milk price while at the same time providing a fair and competitive price for consumers. The Board accomplishes this by establishing minimum prices to be paid Pennsylvania farmers for milk, and by establishing minimum wholesale and retail prices. Prices are based upon evidence presented by interested parties during public hearings. All factors affecting the production, processing, packaging, delivery, and in-store handling costs of milk are considered.
Pennsylvania is divided into six different milk marketing areas. Each area is regulated by a different official general order. Official general orders (OGOs) are issued by the Board after hearings are conducted at which evidence is presented concerning that particular area. OGOs establish the minimum prices to be paid to farmers for their milk, and establish the minimum wholesale and retail prices in each area. Milk Marketing Areas 1 and 4 are also regulated under Federal Milk Marketing Order 1; Area 5 is regulated by Federal Milk Marketing Order 33; Milk Marketing Areas 2, 3, and 6 are not regulated by any Federal Milk Marketing Orders. However, some plants in Areas 2, 3, and 6 fall under federal regulations. Federal Milk Marketing Orders cover specific geographic areas and can cross state lines; these orders establish minimum prices for all classes of producer milk.
Pennsylvania enforces a state-mandated premium over the announced state and federal minimum price paid to producers. The state-mandated premium is paid to Pennsylvania farmers for milk that is produced, processed and used as Class I milk (fluid drinking milk) in Pennsylvania. The federal producer price does not consider production and marketing conditions peculiar to Pennsylvania milk marketing areas (severe weather, fuel shortages, etc.). Since its inception in September 1988, the state-mandated premium has resulted in over 840 million additional dollars being paid to Pennsylvania farmers. Pennsylvania Milk Board auditors enforce Pennsylvania minimum payments to farmers through monthly milk dealer audits.
Milk dealers, subdealers, milk haulers, milk testers, and weigher/samplers operating in Pennsylvania are required to be licensed by the Board. The Milk Marketing Fee Act requires the Board to establish fees for certain licenses and certificates relating to milk marketing. The revenue generated from these fees and from fines is the Board's only funding source.
The Pennsylvania Milk Board is as necessary now as it was in the 1930s. Agribusiness is the number one industry in the Commonwealth, and dairy is the largest segment of this industry.
Address:
2301 N. Cameron Street
Agriculture Building, Room 108
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Office Hours:
All staff may be reached by email and telephone Monday - Friday.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 8 am-4pm
Wednesday: 8am-4pm
Thursday: 8am-4pm
Friday: Closed
(Open by advance appointment only Monday and Friday.)
Phone:
(717) 787-4194
Email:
ra-pmmb@pa.gov
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