Pro-Ag letter to Dairy Sub-Committee
Progressive Agriculture Organization 1300 Rattlesnake Hill Road Meshoppen, Pa 18630 Phone - 570 - 833 – 5776 Fax - 570-833-5992 Cell – 570 – 313 - 7209 progressiveagricultureorg@gmail.com
April 24, 2012
To All Members of the U.S. House of Representatives Dairy Sub-Committee, CongressmanThomas Rooney, Chairman
Dear Congressmen,
On Thursday April 26, the members of the House Dairy Sub-Committee will be conducting an important hearing that may lead to a new dairy policy that will affect all dairy farmers in the United States.
Continued reports seem to indicate that almost all dairy farmers are in support of the Peterson Bill HB 3062. With all due respect to Representative Peterson, I beg to differ with these reports. I’m aware of some independent surveys that have been taken that indicate many dairy farmers do not support HB 3062.
It is inconceivable that Congress will pass a dairy bill that calls for the US government to subsidize an insurance program that will cover some of the dairy farmers losses, and even more inconceivable that the dairy bill would strongly suggest that dairy farmers should acquire further insurance to cover more losses.
A well-known accountant in California has determined that the insurance plans may cover only one-third of the dairy farmer losses. Allegedly HR 3062 would deregulate the dairy industry, possibly eliminate the dairy price support program and eliminate the MILC programs.
In my opinion HB 3062 will only enhance the dairy processors dreams of possibly earning even greater profits to the detriment of our dairy farmers.
There is an answer to the dairy farmers’ dilemma. The answer is contained in S-1640, the Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act introduced in the Senate by Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA).
S-1640 would price milk to the dairy farmers on the average cost of producing milk. This cost would be determined by the Economic Research Service, a division of the USDA (which they are currently doing, but these costs are not figured in the present pricing system, and would not be used in HB 3062.)
S-1640 allows for a milk supply management program that would be paid by dairy farmers, not the US government.
S-1640 is fair to the dairy farmers, consumers, and the milk processors.
The Bill calls for the prices paid to dairy farmers to be adjusted four times a year. There are many other worthwhile provisions in S-1640.
I strongly urge all of you to review S-1640 before a decision on a new dairy bill.
It is evident that it is seemingly impossible for any of the proponents of the philosophy of S-1640 to have a chance to testify before any dairy committee in Washington DC.
I would appreciate your sincere review of S-1640.
As the old saying goes, please don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.
Sincerely,
Arden Tewksbury
