Dairy Foods: Perspectives on Raw Milk Cheeses

The role of extension dairy, poultry, and livestock educators is evolving rapidly; and to be relevant, we must continue to provide science-based information to an ever-broadening clientele. Campus-based specialists have remained insulated from this shifting paradigm longer than fieldbased staff that often facilitate disputes involving agriculture. Examples of conflicts involving animal agriculture include disagreements over manure or odor regulations, animal welfare, animal cloning, and food safety (for example sales of raw milk). The situational framework of Heifetz and Sinder describes three situations that illustrate the shifting paradigm faced by extension specialists. In the first situation, both a problem and a solution are clear, which characterizes the traditional role of extension specialists as experts in a particular field. The second situation, where a problem is clear but a solution is not; is familiar ground for those of us trained as scientists. But the third situation, where both the problem and solution are unclear, will become more common as we tackle the larger societal issues facing animal agriculture. In 1988, Carpenter and Kennedy put forth the concept of a spiral of unmanaged conflict. Initially, the problem arises, sides form, and positions harden. But as the conflict spirals out of control, communication stops, resources are committed, conflict spills outside the community, perceptions become distorted, and a sense of crisis emerges. As livestock, dairy, or poultry extension specialists, our best opportunity is to be involved and to provide science-based solutions or alternatives before the conflict begins to spiral out of control. Once communication stops, even science-based information may be misinterpreted as advocacy. Unfortunately, in most cases we are not properly trained and do not feel comfortable in dispute resolution; and our reward systems within our universities do not properly recognize efforts in public issues education, conflict resolution, or consumer education.