As spelled out in the 1996 farm law, New York is one of six states, (as well as Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia) which can join the existing Compact. The NY State Senate approved New York's participation in the Northeast Dairy Compact on February 24, 1998 by a vote of 35-18. Governor Pataki on February 10, 1998 announced that he would sign Compact legislation if approved by the State Legislature. The Assembly Agriculture Committee voted the legislation out of committee on June 16, 1998. The legislation then went to the Committee on Codes. However, no further action was taken on the measure before the Assembly recessed later that same week. The New York Legislature went back into session in December of 1998, and early in the morning of December 18, 1998, passed legislation allowing that State to join the Northeast Dairy Compact. The senate passed the legislation by a vote of 40-19 and the Assembly followed with a vote of 94-44. Governor Pataki signed the legislation. The State now needs Congressional approval before it can join.

New Jersey approved legislation to join the Compact and Governor Whitman signed it on January 26, 1998. However, New Jersey must first obtain Congressional approval before it is able to join. The State of New Jersey welcomed the New York vote since the Compact legislation provides that each of the additional six states may join, if, upon entry, the State is contiguous to a participating State. New Jersey would not have been able to join the Compact without New York on board.

The state of Maryland is also looking to join the existing Northeast Dairy Compact. The Senate Agriculture Committee defeated the legislation on March 10, 1998. The House passed the legislation during the last week of March 1998. The Senate passed the legislation on April 10, 1998 by a vote of 27 to 20 and the legislation was signed by the Governor. As with New Jersey, Maryland must also obtain Congressional approval before it is able to join and must be contiguous to a participating state. The state of Pennsylvania has been watching the states of New York, New Jersey and Maryland. Compact legislation was introduced in the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1998. Legislation has again been introduced in both the Pennsylvania House and Senate in 1999.

There is also a strong effort underway in the South to form its own Compact. Ten southern states, North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, Mississippi, Kentucky, Alabama and Oklahoma, have all approved Compact legislation. Georgia passed Compact legislation in 1998. However, the Governor vetoed the legislation and the legislature has adjourned for that year. Both chambers passec Compact legislation in early 1999. It is awaiting the Governor's signature. To learn more about the Southern compact, go to the Southeast Dairy Compact Web Site

Western states are now expressing interest – Oregon, Washington, California, Ohio, and Missouri. They are at the same point that the southern states were two years ago.