According to an article by Nicole Gaurdiono in the Burlington Free Press.com, Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, along with other Senators, met with United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. During the “strategy meeting,” the Vermont Senators urged the Secretary for a short-term increase in what the federal government pays for milk and dairy products in the market. Leahy stated that “we have an ally in the Secretary Vilsack.” To read the Burlington Free Press story click here.In addition to the meeting with the Secretary, lawmakers have re-started the Congressional Dairy Caucus. So far the bi-partisan caucus has over 50 members. The caucus had disbanded following passage of the last Farm Bill. Yet, since then milk prices have dropped while production costs have increased. This is why the bi-partisan caucus is pushing for an emergency increase in subsidies and government purchases of excess dairy products.
For one of the caucus founders, Representative Peter Welch, the problem for milk these days is the global recession and decline in purchases from China following a scare from “tainted milk products,” which were given to Chinese children. There are a few options for helping out farmers that are mentioned in the Burlington Free Press article. The big question is how soon will help come to the nation’s dairy farmers? For more information on the issue and potential government solutions read the following article in the Daily Tribune.
Posted: 07/31/09
