The North Carolina Dairy Producers Association has presented its 2007 Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Geoffrey A. Benson of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, N.C. State University. Benson, an associate professor and Extension economist in the College's Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, was honored for his extensive support of the state's dairy industry.

Benson's work with North Carolina dairy producers has evolved with the industry, according to Norman Jordan Jr. of Siler City, president of the NCDPA, who presented the award to Benson in February.

Jordan particularly noted Benson's role in initiating a 1999 pilot program to collect N.C. dairy farm financial data for a national dairy database and his ongoing efforts to collect, analyze and disseminate financial information from this program to state dairy farmers via Extension programs and his N.C. State Web page.

Benson also assisted the NCDPA in various policy initiatives, including efforts to establish a Southern dairy compact and accompanying the group to the N.C. General Assembly to help ensure passage of the N.C. Dairy Stabilization and Growth Fund Act, said Jordan, who added that Benson "has always been there when needed to provide credibility to the economic data being presented."

-Terri Leith