The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman.

We are sharing this letter from the leadership of Feeding America, the International Dairy Foods Association, and the National Milk Producers Federation, to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Together, our organizations are advocating for government purchases of dairy products to bring balance to the dairy industry and to get ahead of rising food insecurity brought on by record jobless claims.

Food insecurity is a stark and growing reality for too many Americans right now. The acute need in our food banks is demonstrated by Feeding America’s urgent call for resources; last week, the organization issued a plea for an additional $1.4 billion in funding to shore up a 41% shortfall of critical food items at food banks across the nation. With growing food insecurity across the United States, there is no reason for farmers to be forced to discard good milk. A wholesome, nutritious product like milk is needed now more than ever, especially as food banks are stretched to the breaking point and the most vulnerable among us find it harder and harder to make ends meet.

The dairy industry wants to be part of the solution for growing food insecurity but we need USDA to work quickly to begin utilizing the resources provided in the CARES Act.