Dairy coalition urges Dairy Security Act passage

Editor's note: Two more groups were added to the list by NMPF on April 20

A coalition of 29 dairy farmer organizations sent a letter to Senate Ag Committee leaders, expressing their support for including the “Dairy Security Act” into the 2012 Farm Bill.

In a letter to Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich), chair, and Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), ranking member, the coalition stated “it is time to reform federal dairy policy by enacting the Dairy Security Act (DSA) as part of the next Farm Bill.”

“Over the past several years, the dairy farmers represented by these organizations have suffered financially because of extreme margin volatility – dramatic swings in the difference between milk prices and feed costs,” the letter said. “Our current dairy safety net policies are simply unable to be effective in this roller coaster of volatility.

“The Dairy Security Act is an update to our safety net policies for the 21^st Century.  It provides flexibility and options for each individual dairy.  Not only can the provisions in the legislation be customized to each dairy, there is also an option for any dairy to completely exempt itself from the programs,” it stated.

Dairy farmer organizations signing the letter included: Agri-Mark, Alabama Dairy Producers, Associated Milk Producers Inc., Dairy Farmers of America, Dairy Farmers Working Together, Dairy Producers of New Mexico, Dairy Producers of Utah, Dairylea Cooperative Inc., Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, Holstein Association USA, Inc., Idaho Dairyman’s Association, Iowa State Dairy Association, Land O’Lakes, Maryland Dairy Industry Association, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Midwest Dairy Coalition, Milk Producers Council, Missouri Dairy Association, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Organization, National Milk Producers Federation, Northwest Dairy Association/Darigold, Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, South Carolina Dairy Association, South Dakota Dairy Producers, St. Albans Cooperative Creamery, United Dairymen of Arizona, Upstate Niagara  Cooperative, Inc., and Washington State Dairy Federation.