Blumenthal & Murphy Join Bipartisan Group of Senators in Urging Appropriations Committee to Unlock Federal Funds for U.S. Dairy Farmers Struggling with Historically Low Milk Prices
Dairy Farmers Have Seen Their Income Cut In Half as Milk Prices Dropped By More Than 40 Percent Over The Past Two Years
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) today joined 16 of their Senate colleagues in urging federal appropriators to include funding for dairy farmers across the nation in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget. Specifically, the senators in the bipartisan letter urged appropriators to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to refund farmers for the $73 million that they paid into the Dairy Margin Protection Program in 2015. The senators are also calling on the committee to allow the USDA to provide emergency assistance to dairy farmers and take greater action to support dairy producers.
“As you know, dairy farmers across the country are struggling to stay in business. This year alone, dairy farms in a number of states have been forced to close at alarmingly high levels,” the senators wrote in their joint letter. “The Dairy Margin Protection Program has not provided the safety net for farmers that was anticipated when the program was created. We believe that there are key measures that can be taken that will provide critical near-term support to cash-strapped dairy farmers and pave the way for longer-term sustainability in the industry.”
The letter, led by Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), was also signed by Susan Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Angus King Jr. (I-ME), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D- NH), Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT), Kelly A. Ayotte (R-NH), Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D- RI).
The full text of the letter is included below:
The Honorable Thad Cochran The Honorable Barbara Mikulski
Chairman Vice Chairwoman
Senate Appropriations Committee Senate Appropriations Committee
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Jerry Moran The Honorable Jeff Merkley
Chairman Ranking Member
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
on Agriculture, Rural Development, on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration and Food and Drug Administration and
Related Agencies Related Agencies
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Cochran, Vice Chairwoman Mikulski, Chairman Moran and Ranking Member Merkley:
We write to urge you provide critical assistance for our nation’s dairy farmers in appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year 2017.
As you know, dairy farmers across the country are struggling to stay in business. This year alone, dairy farms in a number of states have been forced to close at alarmingly high levels. Milk prices have dropped by more than 40 percent over the past two years, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicts low prices to continue for the near future. Dairy production costs continue to rise, and severe drought in some regions of the country has driven these costs up further.
To make matters worse, Congress has severely restricted the Secretary of Agriculture’s ability to respond to this crisis. The Dairy Margin Protection Program (DMPP) has not provided the safety net for farmers that was anticipated when the program was created. There is widespread recognition that this program is not working and must be reformed, but our dairy farmers cannot wait for several years until a new Farm Bill is enacted. Many more will go out of business in the next year if immediate support is not provided.
Despite current budgetary constraints and the need for future statutory changes, we believe that there are key measures that can be taken in appropriations legislation for FY17 that will provide critical near-term support to dairy farmers and pave the way for longer-term sustainability in the industry.
Most importantly, we respectfully request that spending legislation for FY17 not include any provision preventing the USDA from implementing clause 3 of Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1935 or from engaging in surplus removal or price support activities under section 5 of the Commodity Credit Corporation Charter Act. Such provisions currently limit the Secretary of Agriculture’s ability to provide emergency support to dairy farmers. Lifting this ban would allow the Secretary more flexibility to respond to the current crisis.
We further request that $3 million within the budget of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) be designated for a survey of average feed costs by state. NASS estimates that such a survey will take 18-24 months, so it must begin this work as soon as possible in order for its results to be ready when Congress considers the next Farm Bill. Accurate information on regional variation in feed costs is critical for designing a program that better supports small and family farms in all regions of the country.
Additionally, we ask that the Committee consider authorizing the Secretary of Agriculture to refund farmers for the $73 million that they paid into the DMPP in 2015. While we understand that the price tag on this request may make this move difficult, we hope that the Committee can understand the frustration and disillusionment of cash-strapped farmers who lost thousands of dollars expecting financial support that was never provided.
Thank you for your consideration of these important requests. We stand ready to work with you to help our nation’s dairy farmers during this crisis.
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