March 25, 2020
Anna-Lisa Laca
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) commended members of Congress for crafting a bipartisan package to provide support and relief during the coronavirus pandemic to all Americans, including dairy farmers.
“Dairy farmers have worked 24/7 to produce safe, affordable, and nutritious products for families throughout the coronavirus crisis, even as their own economic outlook grows darker,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of NMPF, the largest organization of U.S. dairy farmers in a press release. “Forecasts for milk prices have dropped significantly in the past month, with greater declines possible as the COVID-19 outbreak continues. We are very grateful that Congress understands the significant economic challenges our farmers face and is rising to that challenge on a bipartisan basis.”
Congress is expected to pass quickly the Senate’s coronavirus relief package, released today. The measure creates a $9.5 billion coronavirus agricultural disaster fund that specifically includes livestock and dairy producers, as well as critical assistance to small businesses that are a key link in the entire dairy supply chain, NMPF said in a press release.
“We commend the bipartisan Senate negotiations that produced this outcome. We especially wish to thank Senators Chuck Schumer and Debbie Stabenow for ensuring that dairy farmers will receive significant support,” Mulhern said. “Their work greatly improved this bill. We look forward to its passage.”
Sen. Hoeven, speaking this morning on Fox Business Network, said: “We got about $25 billion to help our farmers and ranchers and that's so very important because that's the food supply we all depend on not only across America but throughout the world. And so, our farmers and ranchers are out there doing their part. And we've got to make sure we get them through this coronavirus as well. And of course, a lot of other help in the mill, about $2 trillion in total.”
American Farm Bureau Federation economist John Newton put together this graphic to show how the aid package funding is dispersed.
milkbusiness.com
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