The leader of Wisconsin’s largest farm organization says he is excited about an effort in Congress that would establish a group to improve dairy pricing policy on the federal level. Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Joe Bragger explained in an editorial piece that the Dairy Pricing and Policy Commission Act of 2020 would direct the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to form such a panel.
“It is no surprise to any dairy farmer reading this that the past five years have been a challenge. The past seven and a half months, however, have brought some of the worst hurdles to cross,” Bragger said. “It is about time for some good news.”
The Buffalo County farmer says the effort began as a partnership between Reps. Ron Kind and Mike Gallagher and WFBF leaders. The new commission would consist of one member of a national consumer organization, three members representing land grant universities, one member representing the food and retail beverage sector, six dairy producers, three dairy processors and two dairy industry experts.
Specifically, the serving individuals would respond to periods of heightened dairy production during low prices by considering better supply chain coordination and market price signals; enhance the competitiveness of American dairy producers in world markets; and evaluate and identify challenges and opportunities for new markets for dairy exports. They would also ensuring that Federal Milk Marketing Orders and FMMO rule makings are transparent and provide a fair return to producers regardless of the end product for which their milk is used.
Kind and Gallagher say they hope the commission also conducts a study on decreasing real values of dairy farmer milk prices and income, as well as economic and policy causes for the declining number of small and medium sized dairy operations.
Source: Wisconsin Ag Connection