IDFA Outlines Impact of Outdated Milk Pricing System on Rising Costs
In written testimony provided to members of the U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee, IDFA President and CEO Connie Tipton outlined how the government's outdated system for milk pricing is contributing to spiraling costs in these programs. U.S. Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) placed the statement in the committee's official record.
“Rising milk costs are making it increasingly difficult for processors and school districts under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's school lunch program to meet program requirements within budget,” Tipton said. “The budget for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's child nutrition programs must serve more than 30 million students every day, and school foodservice directors across the country are struggling to make nutritious meals because reimbursement rates from USDA have not kept pace with rising milk and food costs."