

"We very much appreciate the efforts of committee Chairman Frank Lucas and ranking member Rep. Collin Peterson for their leadership in including the Dairy Security Act in the Farm Bill. The DSA provides the best combination of effective risk management for dairy farmers, while minimizing farm program costs to the taxpayer.
"Dairy farmers have labored for four years to develop the reforms contained in the DSA. We have worked with leaders of both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees to construct a new safety net that offers dairy farmers more effective protection than current policy. We appreciate the fact that House Agriculture Committee members are concerned with fashioning the best dairy policy possible, and we are heartened by their decision today to back the DSA.
"The House committee has now twice rejected the Goodlatte-Scott effort to undermine establishment of a workable national dairy policy. As the farm bill moves to the House floor, we hope that the committee's decision today will be the final word on the matter. It is time for dairy processors to end their campaign of divisiveness, and assist us in moving the farm bill toward completion.
"The dairy industry needs the stability that the DSA will provide, and we need it now. The House version of the bill is on the right path, and its dairy title now matches the farm bill approved Tuesday by the Senate Agriculture Committee. We urge Congress to move quickly to complete action on the farm bill this summer."
05.15.2013