Prior to leaving for the Holiday recess, the U.S. Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the government but defeated a disaster measure that had passed the House. Chris Galen of the National Milk Producers Federation says that bill contained some provisions beneficial to the dairy industry. He’s hoping the Senate will bring it up again in January and then approve it.

He says the House measure contained improvements for the Livestock Gross Margin program that would give dairy farmers more risk management options.

Galen says Senators were most concerned about making sure the government didn’t shut down before they recessed and didn’t focus very hard on the disaster legislation.

Galen is encouraged the House approved the disaster bill ahead of Christmas and is hoping Senators will reconsider that measure when they convene next month.