Dairy farms to get a federal Christmas present

Local dairy farmers ravaged by the recession stand to benefit from a newly approved government assistance program.

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, co-chairman of the Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus, announced Thursday that help is on the way for Connecticut’s and the nation’s dairy farmers who have experienced one of the worst economic downturn in decades.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will be releasing $290 million in direct assistance to dairy farms appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which was signed into law in October.

Dairy farms throughout eastern Connecticut will begin receiving cash payments this week with the amounts determined by each farm’s production level, announced Thursday by the USDA.

“Our local dairy farms have faced a crash in prices in 2009, forcing them to borrow at an unprecedented level.  Today I am pleased to announce that help is on the way,” Courtney said.  “After fighting for more than a year to bring home some good news for the dairy industry, the check is in the mail and will provide some help to struggling dairy farms.”

Courtney founded and co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Dairy Farmers Caucus in the House of Representatives and has used that position to launch a campaign to aid dairy farmers.

In July 2009, Courtney was invited to testify before the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy by Chairman Collin Peterson, at which he argued for direct payments to dairy farmers.

“Our dairy farmers have received critically low prices for the milk produced on their farms over the past year.  This direct payment will help cover accrued farm expenses and indicates a national awareness and need to ensure the future of our dairy industry. We thank Congressman Courtney for making this a priority issue in Washington, D.C. and helping all of Connecticut’s dairy farmers,” said Don Tuller, president of Connecticut Farm Bureau Association.

“I am so appreciative for the help that Congressman Courtney has provided in getting funding to help us.  This was the worst year I have experienced and the loss of equity could have closed down many dairy farms.  With the help of the state and federal programs, as well as the temporary raising of the support price for three months, we see the light at the end of the tunnel. We all appreciate Joe’s support,” said Nate Cushman of Cushman Farms in Lebanon.

“I want to thank Rep. Courtney for all his efforts on behalf of our dairy farms.  Congressman Courtney has led the way and gone the extra mile to make sure the dairy industry in our state survives,” said Paul Miller, Long Hill Farms in Woodstock.