It’s a tough time for dairy farmers. “For dairy farmers the last few months especially, it’s been significantly impactful on farmer’s bottom lines.” Associated Milk Producers Incorporated Vice-President of Public Affairs Sarah Schmidt says there are some important changes in the Margin Protection Program outside of the farm bill. The program isn’t perfect. In the next farm bill, dairy farmers want to build off these updates. “We really believe in the concept of the Margin Protection Program, ensuring a margin on your farm: the milk price minus the feed costs. This helps in times of high feed prices, but low milk prices. The concept is there with this program, but it sincerely missed the mark in execution as we look at the past few years. With the next bill, that’s what we’re trying to achieve. We’re trying to take the concept, which is a good one, and make it more effective.”
House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson says lawmakers understand there continue to be opportunities for dairy farmers to protect their farm in the House version of the farm bill. “What’s not in the bill is what a lot of dairy farmers want: a check from the government. Those days are over. I keep telling them there will be no more MILC type programs, no money from the government paid out. Some think there is going to be.”