As Congress races against time to pass the new Farm Bill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer visited Keystone Dairy in St. Lawrence County. His visit highlighted the importance of the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, a lifeline for many dairy farmers.
The DMC, established under the 2018 Farm Bill due to expire on September 30, aids farmers when the price they receive for their milk dips below production costs. Without the renewal of this program in the new Farm Bill, dairy farmers will lose vital monthly payments.
Schumer, a key advocate for the DMC's creation, insists on the program's continuation. "We need to get this done," said Schumer. He cautioned that failure to renew the DMC could result in supply chain disruptions and less milk on store shelves.
The effects could ripple beyond dairy farmers to the wider community, as Schumer warns, "If our farmers have trouble, the whole county has trouble." He suggests this could potentially threaten the very existence of farms.
For Eric Fonda, Keystone Dairy's co-owner and third-generation farmer, the DMC has been essential during recent periods of falling milk prices. Fonda noted, "Right now, margins that dairy producers nationwide are about as tough as I've ever seen them."
Brian Murray, the USDA's New York State Director, echoes this sentiment. He emphasizes the devastating economic impacts on farmers and rural communities should the DMC be discontinued.
At present, neither Democrats nor Republicans have advanced their version of the Farm Bill, making a missed deadline likely. This uncertainty hangs over the dairy industry, a significant part of the state's agriculture sector. St. Lawrence County, being the third largest milk-producing county in New York, has much at stake in the upcoming bill.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-vwalakte
Categories: New York, Livestock, Dairy Cattle