Department of Agriculture mobilizes dairy surplus

In a move that would benefit hungry families and struggling California dairyman alike, the Department of Agriculture plans to shift 200 million pounds of surplus nonfat dry milk to national feeding programs and an additional 1.5 million pounds to international feeding programs.

While this move will provide only temporary relief for the devastated California dairy industry, industry leaders say it will make a difference. What would curb the suffering even more? Marsh and San Joaquin lawmakers say the rebirth of the Dairy Export Incentive Program, a program that pays cash bonuses to U.S. dairy exporters.

Dairy groups reported spending $4.1 million on lobbying efforts and contributing $4.7 million to political candidates during the 2008 elections. Let’s hope those efforts pay off in the form of much needed support.

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