Dairy is an udder N.Y. necessity

Madrid, N.Y.: Dairy remains popular in its many forms for many reasons, from its nutritional value to the delicious products that all start with milk. Unfortunately, the Jan. 30 Op-Ed from Jessica Scott-Reid “New York’s dairy producers don’t need more taxpayer support” paints a horribly misleading and incorrect picture of New York dairy farming. Not a surprise since she is a vegan activist who lives in Denmark.

Drinking milk may have declined because of the myriad of drink choices on the market today, but the dairy case is bigger than ever with the popularity of yogurt, more cheeses to choose from and the creation of new products like milk energy drinks and lactose-free milk. Also, more people are returning to whole fats and real butter because of the nutritional value supported by decades of research. Milk supplies nine essential nutrients that our bodies need.

As a dairy farmer and New York Farm Bureau president, I know that life on the farm is better now too. Our cows are treated with great care and comfort because it is the right thing to do for the animal. It is also better for the consumer because it results in higher-quality milk. We have sand bedding, automated back scratchers, and cooling misters in the hot weather months and calf jackets and earmuffs when it’s cold. Activists, like Scott-Reid, often paint a horrible picture, but they have an agenda to sell and fear goes a long way in doing that. Fortunately, for dairy farmers, the truth is on our side. All it takes is a visit to a New York dairy or checking out our own farms’ social media pages to better understand that.

Finally, she was critical of the Farm Bureau for advocating for more research dollars at our land-grant university, Cornell. We represent all of agriculture, not just dairy. Research helps all farmers to do more with less, provide better care of our animals, improve workplace safety for our employees and better manage pests and extreme weather in a more responsible manner. That benefits us all and is a worthy investment of New York State taxpayers. It results in better food, greater environmental stewardship and stronger animal care. Who could argue with that? David Fisher

Lavern’s Law at last

Bronx: The signing of Lavern’s Law is a monumental piece of legislation, not only for the patients, but also for their families. Thanks Gov. Cuomo, for being the governor for the people of New York, most important, for the disenfranchised. We do not want to forget all of you who brought Lavern’s plight and her daughter Micala to the forefront. Thanks for rallying, petitioning and advocating for Lavern and Micala. Those of you who knew Lavern know she would be totally humbled and appreciative. I didn’t know her, but I read her story and I am grateful!

Sandra Y. Peters

Yahoo for Chief Wahoo

Lebanon, Ore.: I am a Native American and I do not find the Cleveland Indians mascot in any way offensive or racist. Quite the opposite. I feel that it is an honor that the Indians have chosen the name “Indians” and the Indian logo, Chief Wahoo. Shame on those that are calling it racist. I’m offended that they are being forced to remove it as if it were a shame to be called Indian or portray the image. I’m proud to be Native American. It is part of America and what makes us who we are today. Rachel Christopher

Seeing through a racial prism

Middletown, N.J.: Re “Slave teacher outrage” (Feb. 2): With all this sensitivity going on in this world nowadays, I think history should not be taught in class because someone somewhere will be offended, no matter what race, color or religion. Every race in this whole world has gone through hatred and abuse at one time. I mean what she did was clearly wrong, but history lessons will show the ugly side of lives past. Al Young

Starting a Mexican Cold War

Staten Island: I want to remind Trump’s supporters that the despotic state of East German communism decided a wall would be a good solution. It came to be known as the Berlin Wall. Ronald Reagan famously called for it to be torn down. Is this what you want for America?

Gary Savage

Blame Mom & Dad, Dreamers

Edison, N.J.: I sympathize with the Dreamers, but their parents knowingly violated our laws when they entered the U.S. illegally, knowingly lived and worked here illegally for many years and knowingly put their children in this situation. Sad and unfortunate for the Dreamers? Yes. But is it our government’s responsibility to correct the bad decisions and illegal actions of the parents? No. The Dreamers should blame their parents for bringing them here and staying here illegally and not blame our government for not making them legal. Then there is the issue of fairness. Other young people from foreign countries have “dreams” of living, working and obtaining an education in the U.S., too. They have remained in their homelands and followed the prescribed procedures and laws to obtain the benefit that now may be given to the Dreamers because they did not follow the procedures and laws. Where is the fairness in that?

Colleen Passafiume

Forgetting other Dreamers

Austin, Texas: To Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio: While I empathize with the plight of the Dreamers and I completely agree with your Feb. 2 Op-Ed that Dreamers should be helped, “Save Dreamers, then do the rest,” I do not agree that legal immigration reform must be halted until DACA has been sorted out. This is the first time legal immigration reform has been taken so seriously in the government. I would like to bring attention to the big community of foreign workers from India, China, Philippines and Mexico who are here on the H1B program. Because of diversity limits and country caps, the waiting time for an EB2 petition for a green card is about 10 years while that of EB3 is more — in some cases about 20 years. So while the parents are waiting for green cards, their children who just turned 18 are out of their parents’ application and now have to leave the country to a country they have never been to. Does that not sound similar to what you are fighting for? If we are on the same boat, why do you want us get off? Ashwin Bin

Didn’t ‘get’ the memo

Manhattan: I’m not proud to admit this, but I have no freakin’ clue what the hell these news peeps are even talking about regarding the just-released FBI memos! It’s way too in the weeds to even make me want to understand it! My school days are over and done! One thing I do know: This loser, Carter Page, who seems to be a key part of the dossier here, is nothing more than a nerdy, squirmy wannabe political player who is a total nonentity and doesn’t deserve to take up another moment of my remaining time on this planet! Gary Stein

Carrying the Olympic flame

Melbourne, Australia: The Winter Olympians are going to be supplied with 110,000 condoms. There are 3,000 athletes there for 16 days which gives 2.29 items per individual or 4.5 per couple per day. Assuming the 0.5 condoms are saved up for noncompetition days, it still seems a busy and fun time. It is a cold environment although this suggests some warmth will be generated by the Olympic spirit. The Olympic motto of “Faster, Higher, Stronger” may not add much benefit to this analysis. It might not just be the coming together of North and South Korea that provides the highlights of these friendly games. Perhaps now it is clear why so many people try out for the Olympics with such enthusiasm. I will be watching the events, the sporting ones, on TV with a newfound interest.

Dennis Fitzgerald

Keep The News free

Los Angeles. I’ll miss reading you. But the Daily News isn’t worth paying for. Neither is The New York Times or Washington Post. Add ads or surveys, but if there’s a firewall, you’ll miss me. I hope you reconsider. I love reading The News. But I won’t pay for anything online when I can go to free sources. We need to keep people educated. Sean Dozier

Bullets over baseballs

Cambria Heights: How thoughtful. A young fan gets hurt by a foul ball and the public demands that MLB force parks to extend the netting. Twenty first-graders get shot to death, but the public won’t confront their representatives to shun the NRA or lose their seat.

Calvin Hill

Time to face it, Donald

GETTY Brooklyn: Somebody needs to tell that blow-hard Donald that he is not the greatest President ever, and that he will never be, and his face will never be on Mount Rushmore. Somebody that claims to be “really, really smart” should start acting like a diplomat and a leader and not some grade-school brat. Jeffrey P. Smith