GUEST EDITORIAL by Arden Tewksbury, Manager, Pro Ag

Another Bus Trip to Washington

Dec, 14, 2009) Nearly 20 members and supporters of the Progressive Agriculture Organization (ProAg) joined forces with some members of the Family Farm Defenders, along with about 35 other farmers from New York State, and made another quick trip to visit legislators and/or their aides in Washington, DC.

While the agenda being circulated by the groups might have been slightly different, the clear message was very consistent. All of them agreed that the dairy farmers were in a state of financial ruination, and Congress must step in and pass a new Dairy Bill now, not three years down the road.

 large group of dairy farmers met with Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) and his staff for nearly an hour. Senator Specter, (the only Senator who met with anyone), pledged his continued support to correct the financial inequities facing all dairy farmers across the United States.

Senator Specter and Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr., (D-PA) have introduced the Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2009, which is geared to correct the major financial problems facing the majority of dairy farmers. In part, the Bill would price milk to dairy farmers based on the national average cost of production as determined by the Economic Research Service (a division of USDA). In addition, the Bill contains a milk supply management program, which would be funded by dairy farmers, not the US government. The Specter-Casey Bill also addresses the bothersome problems of imported manufactured dairy products.

In addition, the group urged the Senator to support an $18.00 per cwt floor price under all milk used to manufacture dairy products. The group also cautioned the Senator that the $18.00 floor price must also be adjusted to allow the Class I price to increase at the same time. The floor price should remain in effect until the Specter-Casey Bill is enacted.

Later on, a large contingency of dairy farmers met with Representative Colin Peterson (D-MN), who serves in the powerful position of Chairman of the US House Agriculture Committee. The farmers reminded Chairman Peterson about the desperate financial plight of all dairy farmers and the need for a floor price under milk used for manufacturing purposes. The group also pushed the Chairman for a cost of production formula. Additionally, the group informed the Chairman that they had serious concerns about the ongoing problems with information regarding the cold storage of cheese. In my opinion, adequate and reliable reports about data for stored dairy products have always been a problem.

During the meeting with Representative Peterson, Pro Ag members, Hal Drick, a dairy farmer from Lycoming County, and Brenda Cochran, a Tioga County dairy farmer, brought to the Chairman’s attention the need for him to muster support for the Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2009. They informed Congressman Peterson that this Bill would correct the majority of the financial problems that are overwhelming dairy farmers in all areas across this country. The Chairman seemingly feels that the new 2012 Farm Bill should be the instrument to correct these problems facing dairy farmers. The group told Representative Peterson that the majority of dairy farmers can not endure this financial agony into the spring of 2010, let alone until the 2012 Farm Bill passes, anymore than victims trapped in a house fire set by arsonists could survive until 2010 or 2012 for the fire department to arrive to rescue them.

The last meeting was held with Congressman Glenn Thompson (R-PA). I have met with Congressman Thompson several times. We are encouraging the Congressman to introduce a companion Bill to the Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2009 in the House of Representatives. Congressman Thompson appears to be amenable to introducing such a bill.  He questions the amount of imports coming into the US. Both the Congressman’s staff and Pro Ag are attempting to resolve this issue. The dairy farmers were accompanied by several agribusiness people, and all of them confirmed the seriousness of the problems in rural America.

I am sure that most of the people who made the famous 24-hour marathon to Washington left the Capitol shaking their heads and wondering if members of the US Congress will wake up and do something about the dairy farmers’ plight before complete decay infiltrates rural America.

PRO AG can be reached at 570-833-5776 or at progressiveagricultureorg@gmail.com