Producers testify at Senate Ag Committee hearing

Representatives from the dairy industry testified in a senate ag sub-committee meeting yesterday in Washington D.C. to discuss the current dairy crisis and options to aid in both the short and long term. Two panels presented testimonies during the hearing. The first panel, consisting of dairy producers, included Eric Ooms, N.Y.; Paul Toft, Wis.; Ray Souza, Calif.; and Doug Nuttleman, Neb. The producers all shared with the committee their own firsthand accounts of the amount of stress current prices have put on their own operations. They also urged for swift action to help ailing farmers and a serious look into dairy pricing policy. Nuttleman, an NMPF board member, told the committee that, “Producers, like me, agree that the more than 70-year-old safety net programs need revamping.” According to NMPF, Nuttleman also urged the committee to thoughtfully consider recommendations to reform or reshape dairy policy in the future.

The second panel included processors as well as representatives with policy proposals. Those panelists included Ed Gallagher, Dairylea Cooperative, N.Y.; Russell Redding, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture; Paul Kruse, Blue Bell Creameries, Texas; Lucas Sjostrom, Holstein Association USA. We’re pleased that dairy is being heard in our nation’s capitol, but are unsure what or when something will happen, or if much will wait until the next farm bill — a few years away.