Senate Endorses Dairy Reform in 2012 Farm Bill

“The U.S. Senate sent an important message to the nation’s agriculture industry today by passing S. 3240, the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 (Farm Bill). The Farm Bill contains dairy provisions that will provide producers with tools to better manage volatility and their margins, while keeping them competitive in the global marketplace.

“We applaud Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow and Ranking Member Pat Roberts for their leadership and perseverance in securing final passage of this important measure. This bill is a critical step toward much needed dairy policy reform.

“Since the dairy economy crash of 2009, dairy farmers, industry organizations and cooperatives — including DFA — have worked to develop a new system that better protects the interests of producers in a highly volatile industry.

“As attention now shifts to the House of Representatives to move a Farm Bill forward, we encourage House lawmakers to support the inclusion of dairy provisions similar to those contained in the Senate-passed Farm Bill. With dairy producers experiencing another low price cycle, it is imperative that the House takes quick and decisive action to signal to hard-working farm families that tools will be available to help them manage through future market declines.”