Much at Stake on Farm Bill; Members Urged to Act Now

The Senate is expected to finalize its farm bill version this week; then a conference will begin between House and Senate Agriculture Committee members to iron out differences between the House and Senate farm bills. While some contentious dairy provisions have been put aside for the time being, dairy foods companies still have a lot at stake in how the final bill emerges from the conference committee. IDFA is asking its members to get in touch with elected representatives now -- particularly those congressional members that will serve on the farm bill conference committee -- about the ongoing farm bill debate.

In the end, one of the better results for dairy would be to have the basic House-passed provisions prevail, which include a simple extension of the Dairy Price Support Program at $9.90 per hundredweight and no new payment scheme or dairy compacts. Click here to read members-only Alert #02-02 for more details. Members can use the GRAND network to contact Congress by clicking here.###

Posted: February 11, 2002