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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 8, 2024 04:18 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Emily Kinkead |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Helping Our Dairy Farmers Access the Dairy Margin Coverage Program |
| Pennsylvania is one of the top dairy-producing states in the nation and, unlike many of the other top-producing states, most of the milk produced in our Commonwealth is produced by small, family dairy farms. Unfortunately, year over year we are losing these important family businesses as they struggle to survive in a tough market. One crucial way that we can support our Pennsylvania dairy farmers is by providing them with assistance to access the federal Dairy Margin Coverage program. The Dairy Margin Coverage Program, or DMC, is a voluntary federal risk management strategy that farmers can use to offset losses that can occur during sudden drops in the price of milk, similar to crop insurance. Payments are triggered when the national average of income over feed costs falls below a coverage level selected by farmers. These payments can help farmers weather unexpected downturns in milk prices and allow them to keep producing one of the most nutrient-dense drinks available. My legislation would allow the state to offer assistance to farmers who want to enroll in the program. This is a similar approach that other states have taken, including Maryland and Virginia. By helping farmers pay for DMC, we are encouraging our dairy farmers to be proactive about managing risk. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting our Pennsylvania dairy industry by co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. |
Introduced as HB2309