New York is one of the largest dairy-producing states in the U.S., but there is no consistent, standardized system to measure animal welfare, transparency, or farm performance.

As a result:

• Consumers don’t have clear information about how dairy is produced
• Animal welfare standards can vary widely between farms
• Oversight and reporting are not always consistent
• Farmers lack a unified system that balances productivity with ethical standards

This creates a gap in accountability, transparency, and fairness across the dairy industry.

NY-DAWPS:

We propose the New York Dairy Accountability, Welfare, and Production System (NY-DAWPS), a data-driven framework that evaluates dairy farms using measurable standards.

This system includes:

• A standardized scoring system based on animal welfare, veterinary care, and transparency
• Annual ratings assigned to farms
• Public labeling so consumers can see farm performance
• Incentives for high-performing farms and support for improvement

NY-DAWPS is designed to reward responsible farmers while improving overall industry standards- not to punish or harm farmers.

Our goal is to:

• Improve animal welfare in New York’s dairy industry
• Increase transparency for consumers
• Support and incentivize responsible farmers
• Create a fair, data-driven system for evaluating farms
• Position New York as a leader in ethical and sustainable agriculture

WHY THIS MATTERS:

• Consumers deserve transparency about the products they buy
• Animals deserve consistent and humane treatment
• Farmers deserve a system that is fair, clear, and supportive

New York has the opportunity to set a national standard

Sign this petition to support NY-DAWPS and help make New York the first state to lead the way in transparent, ethical, and data-driven dairy farming.

Together, we can build a system that balances animal welfare, farmer success, and consumer trust—and set a new standard for the future of agriculture.