International Dairy Foods Association Issue Alert: SUPPORT_BIPARTISAN_GOODLATTE/D.SCOTT

Support the Bipartisan Goodlatte/D. Scott Amendment

Last year, the Senate and the House Agriculture Committee passed versions of the Farm Bill that included a controversial provision lifted from the Dairy Security Act known as the Dairy Market Stabilization Program (DMSP). However, the Farm Bill was never brought to the House Floor and ultimately a one-year extension of the 2008 Farm Bill was passed. Congress must once again take up the Farm Bill this year, and it is widely expected that both the House and Senate bills will contain the DMSP.

Under the DMSP, the government would periodically interfere in dairy markets by imposing limits on milk production. Dairy farmers who wish to take advantage of margin insurance would be required to sign up for the DMSP or "stabilization." The IDFIIIII IDFA members - the buyers of milk - would be required to withhold payments from farmers enrolled in the program if they produce too much milk and submit the funds to USDA instead.

If this new government program becomes law, dairy food manufacturers will shoulder a new, complex, and costly regulatory burden and future investment in the industry and export opportunities will be stifled. Businesses purchasing dairy products will face increased costs, as will consumers that are already struggling in difficult times. IDFA believes this convoluted system is the wrong approach to keep the U.S. dairy industry strong.

Manufacturers need an abundant and reliable supply of milk to supply facilities and keep up with rapid industry growth, such as that in New York state, where, for example, the growth in the greek yogurt industry is creating thousands of new jobs. A program to limit milk supplies would be disastrous to this economic growth.

Thankfully, there is an excellent bipartisan compromise put forth by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and David Scott (D-GA) that leaves the provisions of the Dairy Security Act 80% intact, but removes the most controversial item, the DMSP or "supply management," which processors and many producers agree is bad policy.

Learn the truth about the Goodlatte/D. Scott Amendment for yourself!

The Goodlatte/D. Scott amendment would:

Provide a safety net for dairy producers without interfering in the marketplace, promoting continued growth and opportunities in export markets for U.S. dairy.
Eliminate unnecessary regulatory burden on dairy businesses, allowing job-creators to continue investing in new and expanded facilities.
Eliminate unnecessary dairy price increases for consumers and for nutrition programs like SNAP.

ThereThTell Congress to support the bipartisan compromise Goodlatte/Scott approachTODAY.

Step One:

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