Following Efforts from Klobuchar, Franken, Peterson, Walz, and Nolan, USDA Announces New Plan to Help Dairy Producers and Families in Need

Press Release

Following efforts from U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Representatives Collin Peterson, Tim Walz and Rick Nolan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new plans to help dairy producers and families in need in 2017. Low milk prices have resulted in sharply reduced incomes for U.S. dairy farmers, which is placing our nation's dairy industry in a vulnerable position. In July, Klobuchar, Franken, Peterson, Walz, and Nolan urged the department to use its authority to take action to protect the nation's dairy farmers from further crisis and aid the expansion and maintenance of domestic farmers. To build on support given by the USDA in August, today the USDA announced plans to purchase $20 million of cheese for food banks and pantries across the nation to assist families in need through USDA nutrition assistance programs.

"Our prosperity depends on supporting and strengthening farms and rural communities throughout Minnesota and across the country," Klobuchar said. "After our continued efforts, Minnesota dairy farmers and families will receive the help they need during this time of low prices."

"With one in five Minnesota jobs tied to agriculture, families and communities all across our state rely on a strong farm economy," Franken said. "But for the past several years, dairy producers in Minnesota and across the country have been hit hard by the perfect storm of low prices, increased U.S. milk production, and changing markets abroad. We called for federal support to help Minnesota's dairy producers make it through these tough times, and I'm glad to see that USDA has responded with this important step."

"This is a good step that will hopefully provide some short-term relief to dairy farmers facing difficult market conditions," Peterson said. "To ensure stability in the dairy industry we need to take a close look and improve on the dairy safety net. I will continue to work closely with my colleagues and dairy farmers to provide a long-term solution."

"Our producers feed the world and we have a responsibility to help them during challenging times," Walz said. "I am pleased USDA is making this investment, not only in our producers, but also in our communities. As we move forward, our work to strengthen the safety net is vital to our economy"

"This is wonderful news for our dairy farmers and families in need. I'm pleased that the USDA has heeded our call and taken this initial step to support our dairy industry," Nolan said. "Agriculture is a critical job-creating industry in Minnesota. It is imperative to the health of our economy that we support our farmers during this difficult period of declining milk prices."