The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, a non-profit organization, is launching a statewide educational campaign to address misconceptions and promote positive messages about dairy farming.

''With the rise of food safety scares and increasing social awareness, consumers are increasingly concerned about how their food is produced. Fewer people know a farmer today than in past generations,'' said Julie Berry, New York Animal Agriculture Coalition Outreach Coordinator. ''Because many consumers have lost the human connection to how our food and fiber is grown, we believe it is essential to share the care, commitment and ethical responsibility that farmers feel toward their land and their animals.''

''This campaign was created by and features farmers who want to dispel myths and tell the story of modern agriculture,'' Ms. Berry said.

The consumer outreach campaign includes billboards along the Finger Lakes corridor in the Auburn; Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca and Rochester markets; and north to Watertown and Canton. The campaign includes five billboards with visual graphics and positive messages about farmers and farming practices. The messages include:

Dairy Farmers Love Feeding Families. We are dedicated to providing you with fresh healthy milk;

Dairy Farmers Love the Land. We practice sustainable farming for a cleaner, greener New York;

Dairy Farmers Love Happy Cows. We know that the healthiest cows make the healthiest milk;

Dairy Farmers Love Strong Communities. We create jobs and drive growth in our local economies;

Dairy Farmers Love Family Tradition, 99 % of New York dairies are family owned;

The television announcements tell the story of the care and concern that modern farmers have for their animals and the land. The announcements feature farmers speaking from the heart about animal agriculture, specifically dairy farms.

The campaign materials and messages can be viewed at www.farmskeepnygreen.org.