Dairy farmers are reacting to dairy policy passed at the National Farmers Union convention this week. Members passed a resolution supporting the Dairy Premium Refund Act which calls for returning unused premiums dairy producers paid into the Margin Protection Program back to them. Minnesota Milk Producers Association President Dave Buck says he thinks that would also help those producers enrolled in MPP.
Buck also likes another component of NFU’s dairy policy which calls for expansion of the Livestock Gross Margin Program as a risk management tool for dairy farmers.
He says farm bill authors need to seriously consider another part of NFU’s dairy policy which calls for increased federal spending to establish an effective dairy safety net.
Buck says that’s critical as USDA figures show dairy producers nationally are getting on average of $15.80 per hundredweight for milk versus their average breakeven which is $22.70.
