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Tough times need better dairy safety net

A Missouri dairy farmer says the dairy safety net is not helping farmers as intended, especially in the depressed ag economy.

He’s National Milk Producers Federation Chairman Randy Mooney who told the House Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture he believes the Margin Protection Program is for the future, but it needs some improvements.  “For many farmers the current program is simply not enough to protect them during this economic environment, since the Farm Bill was signed into law, MPP margins have fallen 52 percent with further declines expected.”  He says the current formula for the dairy margin no longer reflects farmers’ true feed cost.

Also at the hearing, Mooney requested immediate action by Congress on GMO labeling.  “Failure by Congress to address this threatens the viability not only of my farm, but also the 30,000 farmers I represent.”  He says, “It also threatens our ability to feed the world’s growing population.”

He also emphasized the need for strong trade policy.

USDA projects revenues from milk sales will drop to their second lowest level in the last decade this year.

AUDIO: Randy Mooney