News

Dairy leaders take concerns to DC

The dairy community is letting Congress know the industry is in a tough spot.

Farmer-leaders from several Midwest state dairy associations visited Washington, D.C. this week as milk prices continue to fall.

Minnesota Milk vice president Shelly DePestel of Lewiston in southeast Minnesota says most federal lawmakers she talked to are aware of how bad things are for dairies.

“We talked about NAFTA.  Mexico is our largest trading partner, and that seems to have stabilized.  There had been some talk about not as many exports to Mexico, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.  So hopefully things will just stabilize.”

She tells Brownfield dairy leaders also talked to the U.S. Dairy Export Council, learning about new and expanding trade opportunities.

“(they’re) Very much interested in China and the Middle East (as) possibly becoming bigger export markets.  So hopefully things will open up.”

DePestel says immigration reform, livestock emissions, and the Farm Bill were other high-priority issues addressed while in D.C.

In addition to Minnesota, dairy officials from Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota also took part in the visit.