Congressman wants to reform dairy policy now

Northwest Report June 6, 2011 The top Democrat on the House Ag Committee wants to reform federal dairy policy ahead of the 2012 Farm Bill debate.

Peterson: “If we have another downturn in prices we don’t have a safety net that works in dairy. And if we get another deal like we did in 09 we are going to lose half our dairy farmers. We are never going to be them back. So, I don’t think it is an option to wait.”

That’s Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson who backs the National Milk Producers Federation’s dairy market stabilization program - dubbed Foundation for the Future - Peterson says a just-completed CBO scoring shows the proposal would cost taxpayers less than existing dairy policy and therefore would not add to the budget deficit - satisfying a key demand of House Republican leaders.

Peterson: “And we are finishing the drafting of the bill right now. And we are sending it back to CBO to have another reconfirming of the score by CBO. If that comes back positive as I think it will, then what I am pushing for is that we introduce the bill here within the next week or two.”

Peterson says he hopes Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas will sign off on the accelerated timetable. He notes Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow told him she was open to fast-tracking dairy legislation through the upper chamber provided the House acted first.

The International Dairy Foods Association - which represents processors - opposes the Milk Producers Federation’s package of reforms and prefers that lawmakers deal with dairy as part of the farm bill reauthorization.

Struggling to find a way to get your kids to eat their vegetables, then think outside the box, literally. Here is Lacy Gray with Food for Thought.

We discovered a wonderful way to get our three year old grandson to eat his veggies, combine several in a homemade soup that he gets to name and help prepare. Its worked wonders at the dinner table, no more struggling to get him to eat his green veggies. The success of this veggie eating venture has opened the door to other healthy food projects that we can enjoy with our grandchildren. Planting a salsa or pizza garden is a great way to get kids involved in growing their own foods and instill a life long love of gardening. A pizza garden is fun and easy for kids and adults alike, and generally has tomatoes, onions, parsley, basil, oregano, and peppers in it. There are more plants that could be included in a pizza garden, but these six are the easiest for kids to grow. If you want to make it really fun, plant your pizza garden in the “round”, with a “slice” for each different type of plant, but don’t worry if you don’t have a plot of ground, pots work just as well. Growing a pizza garden is a great way to teach kids where food really comes from, and I’m sure that they’ll agree the best tasting pizza they ever had was the one they “grew” themselves.

Thanks Lacy.