News

A shutdown would pause the Federal Milk Marketing Order hearing 

The USDA hearing on the Federal Milk Marketing Order system will have to pause if Congress cannot come to an agreement on how to fund the government after Midnight Saturday. 

The hearing in Mt. Carmel, Indiana is in its sixth week of testimony with no end in sight. 

Kevin Krentz with the Wisconsin Farm Bureau tells Brownfield he understands USDA has the room rented until October 11^th, but the hearing will have to resume once funding is in place.  “At some point, the hearing process is going to have to pick up again, so, whenever the shutdown ends, I think there’s a gap where they won’t be able to have the room, but at some point, they’ll have to get things rolling again in Indiana, then.” 

Much of the recent testimony has been on processors make allowances and risk management.  Farmers can testify online on Fridays, but if the government shuts down, they will also have to wait to share their stories.