Dairy Group Cheers House Farm Bill
It’s time for California Ag Today on the Ag Information Network!It’s May 2024 and we’re still working on the 2023 Farm Bill. Those are the facts, folks, but we are also now seeing some activity in D.C.
Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, is commending House Ag Chair G.T. Thompson for including language in the House farm bill regarding the Class 1 mover. Thompson’s proposal would restore the previous “higher of” Class 1 Mover Formula. From the Milk Producers, they say the prior mover served well for decades, while the current mover has cost farmers more than $1 billion in Class 1 skim milk revenue and undermined orderly milk marketing.
“We are also grateful for the inclusion of language to require mandatory manufacturing plant cost studies to help inform future discussions on make allowances,” Doud says.
The Federation also thanked Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and federal leadership for offering assistance to dairy producers as they meet the challenges of H5N1 in dairy cattle.
From Doud, “We look forward to collaborating with USDA and other agencies as we monitor and contain this outbreak and do what we can to help our farmers.”