In response to USDA’s announcement of a second round of trade mitigation payments to U.S. farmers, NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern offered the following comments:
“The tariff-mitigation payment for dairy farmers in this second round of payments is less than we had hoped for, but it will provide some assistance during difficult times.
“The tit-for-tat tariffs that prompted these mitigation payments continue to inflict damage across the farm economy. We urge the Administration to resolve tensions with key trading partners, including China and Mexico, as the best way to assist farmers going forward.
“We are thankful that Congress last week emphatically supported milk producers and all of U.S. agriculture by passing a farm bill that will provide timely, critical assistance. We look forward to the president signing the bill and appreciate that USDA has highlighted implementation of the new dairy program as an early priority.”
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), based in Arlington, Virginia, develops and carries out policies that advance the well-being of dairy producers and the cooperatives they own. The members of NMPF’s cooperatives produce the majority of the U.S. milk supply, making NMPF the voice of dairy producers on Capitol Hill and with government agencies. For more on NMPF’s activities, visit our website at www.nmpf.org.
