NMPF Working with Congress, USDA to Explore Federal Assistance for Dairy Farmers
August 2, 2016
The challenge of helping farmers make ends meet during a period of globally depressed milk prices has led to a series of conversations between NMPF, lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture about possible ways to assist dairy producers in 2016.
National Milk has consulted with a number of lawmakers in the Senate and House who are interested in helping their dairy farmer constituencies. Late last month, more than 60 senators and representatives sent a letter to Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighting the financial threat facing many operations, and requesting federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“We appreciate the support expressed by members of the House and Senate to help America’s dairy farmers during this prolonged period of low milk prices,” said NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern. “We will continue working with USDA in an effort to identify areas of possible assistance.”
Dairy farm income in the United States is down 40 percent from 2014, dropping in 2016 to the lowest level in at least six years.
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