U.S. dairy farmers continue to struggle with low prices and the National Farmers Union is calling on Congress to provide meaningful support for the industry. The Board of Directors passed a resolution directing Congress to provide immediate cash assistance to dairy farmers. NFU Emergency Dairy Committee Chair Darin Von Ruden says without it, thousands of operations will be forced out of business.
He says dairy prices have fallen by more than 40 percent in the past two years and the Dairy Margin Protection Program has not performed as expected. So, the resolution also directs Congress to give USDA the authority to provide 2015 MPP premium refunds.
Von Ruden says USDA provided some assistance for producers by purchasing surplus cheese. However, the organization wants Congress to advance spending legislation that includes more authority for USDA to supply direct assistance.
The resolution follows repeated requests from NFU and members of Congress for the Senate and House appropriations committees to provide short-term support to dairy producers.
