For Immediate Release
(202) 224-5653

FEINGOLD, KOHL APPLAUD USDA ACTION TO BENEFIT DAIRY FARMERS AND NUTRITION PROGRAMS

 

Washington, D.C. – Wisconsin’s U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl are applauding an announcement made today by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack that more than 200 million pounds of surplus nonfat dry milk (NDM) will be provided to domestic and international nutrition programs.  Transfers of nonfat dry milk will provide critical assistance not only to dairy farmers, but also to nutrition programs across the country like school lunch programs, programs for low-income seniors and food banks.  With the global economic troubles making it harder for many families at home and abroad to put food on the table, this action will provide an important supplement to help meet a growing demand for food.  The stockpiles of NDM will not have to be resold on the open market, allowing dairy prices to increase without interference and speeding up recovery for dairy farmers.  Speeding recovery in this way also has the potential for saving the federal government on storage costs.

 

“I applaud the USDA for this important first step, which will benefit Wisconsin’s school lunch programs, families struggling to pay for food and our dairy farmers, who are facing prices for milk that are well under the cost of production,” Feingold said.  “I will continue to work with my colleagues to push for these and other types of commonsense actions at USDA and other federal agencies, such as purchasing additional dairy products for nutrition programs, speeding the delivery of MILC safety net payments, making sure the Dairy Product Price Support Program operates efficiently, and ensuring that banks that received bailout funds provide a break to farmers and ranchers along with home owners.”

 

“A steep drop in milk prices has hit our farmers at a time when their businesses are already facing the worst economy in decades”, Kohl said.  “Our struggling economy has also increased demands on food banks that have been stretched thin.  We welcome the Administration’s announcement to free up non-fat dry milk for use in nutrition programs.  This is good for both dairy farmers and families in need.”

 

Feingold and Kohl led a letter earlier this year with 33 other senators pushing USDA to take this and other actions.  A copy of their letter can be viewed here.