Welch Calls For Urgent Action To Address Dairy Crisis In Testimony Before House Agriculture Subcommittee

Press Release

Welch was invited to testify before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry about the growing dairy crisis in Vermont. Welch spoke about the hardship facing Vermonters in the industry - including family farmers Bob and Beth Kennett of Rochester and feed dealer Art Whitman of North Bennington.

In the face of severe fluctuations in the price of milk and the ever-rising cost of production, Vermont has lost over 250 dairy farms during the past five years - 32 this year alone. Welch warned that without immediate action, the severity of the crisis is likely to increase - and could result in a major blow to the state's agricultural infrastructure.

"The depth of this crisis cannot be understated. Vermont's farmers, government leaders and agricultural experts agree: Our state's dairy industry is on the brink of collapse," Welch told the subcommittee. "With dairy representing 70 percent of Vermont's agricultural economy, we could very well see a wholesale failure of our agricultural infrastructure - forcing out of business feed dealers, equipment suppliers, processing plants, farm creditors and many more."

Last week Welch introduced the Dairy Fairness Act of 2009 (H.R. 3166), which would index to inflation Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) Program payments to farmers. He also fought to amend the agriculture appropriations bill to significantly increase MILC payments in the short term.

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