Senate farm bill improves risk management for dairy pricing
The legislation also adds plan to boost milk consumption.
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), Washington, D.C., commended the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee on June 13 for approving a farm bill, with a 20-to-1 bipartisan vote, that allows for greater access to risk management tools for dairy processors and producers to address price fluctuations. The legislation also extends the Dairy Forward Pricing Program to 2023, improves the safety net for dairy farmers and creates a new milk incentive program within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to improve participants' diets by increasing fluid milk consumption, IDFA said.
"Managing price risk and increasing consumption are the dairy industry's key priorities, and we commend Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., for drafting a farm bill that will provide increased health benefits to consumers, while empowering dairy processors and producers to help fuel the American economy," said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA’s president and CEO.