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Farm groups urging the U.S. Senate to strengthen dairy policy in the Farm Bill

The government relations director for the Wisconsin Farmers Union says the U.S. Senate can address several key issues facing dairy farmers. 

Michelle Ramirez-White says the Senate version of the farm safety-net is a good first step. 

“We would really like to see this farm bill take some steps further in addressing the symptom of a lot of dairy consolidation, which is oversupply,” she says.

And, she tells Brownfield, there needs to be additional legislation to ease broader financial pressures. 

“Things like commodities and dairy that match the scale of the current economic crisis that family farmers are facing,” she says. “The cuts to the nutrition program at a time when many American families are also struggling to make ends meet. Growth management needs to continue to be implemented into a farm bill.”

White says the organization continues to work on developing policy aimed at bringing balance to milk production to improve long-term stability for the dairy sector.

Dairy Together, led by the Wisconsin Farmers Union, is a farmer-led, multi-state collaboration designed to educate the industry about the importance of growth management in supporting the dairy economy.

AUDIO: Michelle Ramirez-White, WFU and Dairy Together