Dairy Policy is steeped in government involvement and purported manipulation from people and organizations with power over the system. We are in a unique time where we as dairy farmers could begin to change the past history and make things better for dairy producers. One opportunity exists as we work with our congressmen to develop the 2012 Farm Bill.

There is no question that Congress needs to cut the cost of the current Farm Bill. There are proposals from Ag Committees in both the Senate and the House that could do that. There is also a proposed amendment that would do that in the House that would need to come to the House Floor for a vote to become part of the House Farm Bill proposal. It's called the Goodlatte/Scott Amendment.

The proposals from the Senate and the House as well as the Goodlatte/Scott amendment have all been scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to reduce the dairy title funding over the next ten years. Please go here to compare the three plans.  

All three plans are voluntary. All three plans ask for the elimination of the Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP).   All three ask for the elimination of the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) and the Dairy Export Incentive Program (DEIP). All three provide a Margin Insurance and you can note the premium rates on the attached link. They are all very similar especially at the $6.50 margin and above. Most of us would agree that a margin at that level or above is necessary for a profitable dairy industry.

Then note the things the Goodlatte/Scott amendment does not require. No supply management, no producer payment deductions, no new administrative fees and the amendment save $47 million dollars right in the middle of both the Senate's $59 million and House's $38 million versions. In my opinion, that's a move in the right direction as we begin the process of getting the government out of the dairy business.

If you agree with me, there is something you need to do to get this amendment in the 2012 Farm Bill. While the House of Representatives is on summer recess, contact your congressman personally and ask them to include the Goodlatte/Scott amendment in their version of the Farm Bill. Find out where they will be in your district during the recess and make personal contact. You can also reach their ag liaisons at the emails attached below. The betterment of the dairy industry starts with you contacting them.

Visclosky - Jim Bochnowski; Jim.Bochnowski@mail.house.gov

Donnelly - Chase Kitchen; chase.kitchen@mail.house.gov

Stutzman -- John Hammond john.hammond@mail.house.gov 

Rokita - Megan Savage; megan.savage@mail.house.gov 

Burton - Phil Simshauser; Philip.Simshauser@mail.house.gov

Pence - Ryan Jarmula;  ryan.jarmula@mail.house.gov

Bucshon - Janelle Hervig; Janelle.hervig@mail.house.gov

Young - Emily Pickett; emily.pickett@mail.house.gov

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Indiana Dairy Producers and Stewart-Peterson have been looking into the opportunity for some Power-Hour Meetings to be held around the state, as discussed during the June CME Tour. Dates have not yet been set; we are waiting to see how harvest goes and try to set dates that will happen soon after harvest is finished. These meetings will consist of a meal followed by a discussion-type meeting, not lasting more than 90 minutes. We will be inviting IDP members along with key team members (lender, nutritionist, manager, etc...) as well as any of our interested sponsors. We are looking to potentially have four locations for these meetings. Call Doug at 317-695-8228 with thoughts or questions. Until then, with all that is happening, don't hesitate to give Mike Rusch from Stewart-Peterson a call at 262-483-1338 with any marketing questions. Be watching for more information!

You may have seen Indiana Dairy and the CME tour featured in an article in the most recent Progressive Dairyman! You can read the article online here.