Dairy & Agriculture
Senator Sanders believes that small-scale, family-based farms are of fundamental importance for Vermont and America as a whole. Family-based agriculture not only helps support the economies of our rural communities but it also preserves our open spaces and provides fresh, locally-produced, and safe food for consumers. In his nearly two decades representing the Green Mountain State in the House and Senate, Sanders has promoted Vermont’s dairy industry, agritourism, farm-based alternative energy production, and sustainable and organic farming. Nationally, he has supported initiatives to make sure that farmers are paid enough to cover their cost of production, that they operate in fair and competitive markets and encourage young people to enter farming as a career.
In 2009, a Vermont dairy operation that had been run by the same family since George Washington was president was put up for sale. Warning of "a disaster in the making," Sen. Bernie Sanders met with the secretary of agriculture suggesting numerous proposals to help the nation’s ailing dairy industry. He also asked the Justice Department’s antitrust division to take "a very serious look" at Dean Foods Inc., the Dallas-based company that dominates the New England milk market.
"The dairy industry has been, and remains, a vital part of Vermont's economic engine and a central part of the fabric of our communities. All Vermonters understand that if family-based dairy farming is to continue in any significant way in our state and throughout the country, America's dairy farmers must receive fair prices for the products they produce," Sanders has written.
The average price paid to dairy farmers for their milk dropped from 2008 through 2009 from $19.30 per hundredweight (11.6 gallons) to as low as $11.30 per hundredweight. It costs farmers at least $18 per hundredweight to produce milk. While New England dairy farmers receive just $1.00 per gallon for their milk, Americans are paying on average about $3 per gallon at their local store.
During his service in the House of Representatives, Sanders worked alongside the other members of the Vermont congressional delegation to fight for passage of the Northeast Dairy Compact which established an interstate commission with the power to raise the price paid to dairy farmers by milk processors. This commission was replaced by the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program which the delegation developed to assist dairy farmers when the price of milk paid to farmers drops below a certain level. The MILC Program was further enhanced in the 2008 Farm Bill when the Vermont delegation worked to add a feed adjustor to the program so that the price of feed for dairy cows is included as a factor in triggering assistance payments to farmers.
Sanders successfully established a community gardening program for "high-poverty" schools in the 2008 farm bill. The program teaches children how to garden, while at the same time educating them on the principles of sound nutrition and cultivating an interest in agriculture. This program is modeled on the community gardens established at a number of Vermont schools, such as Burlington’s Lawrence Barnes Elementary School. Sanders’ legislation enables five states to establish and/or expand school community gardening programs. It is important that we support community efforts to promote nutrition education in schools, access to affordable local produce, and sustainable forms of energy," Sanders said.
Many family farms regularly welcome visitors to tour their
land and facilities, and purchase products directly from the farm.
Agritourism is a crucial part of many Vermont farmers’ incomes as it often
helps supplement farm income that is not enough to cover a family’s full
expenses. Agritourism is very important for Vermont farmers and the
state's tourism sector in general. Vermont has been a leader in promoting
and developing agritourism and we need to do everything we can to support this
effort that brings visitors to experience our wonderful farming
communities. As a member of the House of Representatives, Sanders helped
establish the Vermont Farms Association which helps market the agritourism side
of Vermont family farms.
Senator Sanders is proud of the pioneering work of Vermont farmers making the state a leader in the recent explosion in interest in farmers markets, local food production and distribution, and organic and sustainable agriculture.
