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Minnesota dairy farmer wants improved safety net

A Minnesota dairy farmer hopes improvements to the dairy safety net are included in the next farm bill.

Fran Miron of Hugo says Dairy Margin Coverage calculations need to be updated to reflect current costs of production.

“And what farmers need in the way of a return to continue to survive out there.”

He tells Brownfield the lack of an adequate safety net has resulted in many small and medium-sized dairies going out of business.

“I think much of that could be prevented by a good, solid farm program. And in particular, one that addresses the needs of dairy farms and families.”

The current farm bill authorized the DMC program, which replaced the Margin Protection Program for dairy.

Miron is a district director for Minnesota Farm Bureau and Brownfield interviewed him at the Minnesota Farm Bureau Annual Meeting last month.