Agricultural News
National Milk Producers Federation Supports Dairy Security Act of 2011
Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:53:05 CDT
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) is giving its full support for a new bill introduced today in the House of Representatives that would make broad improvements in dairy policy.
The bipartisan "Dairy Security Act of 2011" was formally introduced today by the House Agriculture Committee's Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN), along with senior House Republican Mike Simpson (R-ID). The bill is modeled on the dairy reforms developed and promoted by NMPF, and would revamp and improve the farm-level safety net for dairy producers.
"It's been a long journey of reforming dairy policy following the difficult days of 2009, when America's dairy producers lost billions of dollars in equity, but the introduction of the Dairy Security Act is a huge step towards ending an ineffective program, and replacing it with something much better," said Jerry Kozak, President and CEO of NMPF.
"We are thankful for Congressman Peterson's diligent attention this issue, as well as his commitment to real reform, and we look forward to working with him and Congressman Simpson to get this bill passed," Kozak added. The bill reflects the changes endorsed this week by NMPF to its initial "Foundation for the Future" proposal to reform dairy policy.
The Dairy Security Act (DSA) bill is somewhat different from the legislative discussion draft introduced by Peterson this summer, in that it now makes voluntary the Dairy Market Stabilization Program (DMSP), which will help reduce milk output during times of low margins. However, if dairy producers wish to elect to enroll in the subsidized margin insurance program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they will automatically be enrolled in the Dairy Market Stabilization Program so that they are promptly alerted when additional production may affect their overall margins.
The new legislation is also an improvement over the earlier version, according to NMPF, because extends the Basic level of margin insurance coverage to 80 percent of a producer's production history, from 75 percent as initially proposed. The Supplemental margin coverage option is also improved, as it will now allow producers to purchase insurance for growth in their milk production history.
Other changes to the final version of the legislation include a refined provision in the Dairy Market Stabilization Program to ensure that it does not activate during times when signals for farmers to reduce production may impinge on the ability of the U.S. to export dairy products.
Lastly, the Dairy Security Act of 2011 simplifies the Federal Milk Marketing Order pricing system through a formal hearing process conducted by USDA. The proposal directs changes in the way milk used to manufacture cheese (Class III) is priced, from a complicated end-product formula, to a more market-oriented competitive pricing system.
The Congressional Budget Office has evaluated, or scored, the legislative draft to assess its budget impact, and finds that the DSA will reduce federal spending by $167 million during the next five years, and $131 million during the next ten. That level of savings "represents one of the major benefits of this approach, since it will not only provide farmers better security, but also save the government money when the main topic of conversation in Washington is on reducing the deficit," Kozak said.
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