WASHINGTON — Dairy industry leaders today called for the Senate Agriculture Committee to remove a new dairy program that is designed to control milk prices from the draft 2012 Farm Bill and instead focus on providing proven safety-net programs, such as revenue insurance, typically used for other commodities. Miriam Erickson Brown, president and CEO of Anderson Erickson Dairy; Jon Davis, president and CEO of Davisco Foods International, Inc.; and David Ahlem, vice president of dairy procurement and policy for Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc., held a press briefing before heading to Capitol Hill for scheduled meetings with committee members.
The dairy leaders join the International Dairy Foods Association in opposing the milk supply management program, called Dairy Market Stabilization, included in Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow's (D-MI) mark of the 2012 Farm Bill, released on Friday. They believe this program, first introduced in H.R. 3062, the Dairy Security Act, by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), will raise consumer prices, hurt exports, cost thousands of new jobs and stifle investments in new facilities.
"These three companies employ hundreds and have invested millions of dollars into the dairy industry, contributing to the economic recovery of the nation's economy," said Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president for legislative and economic affairs. "Congress has been told that they can attempt to control milk supply and demand without harming consumers and the overall dairy industry, and that is simply not true."
Erickson Brown reinforced the consequences of implementing the Dairy Security Act. "This proposed plan will create a chain of events which will limit the milk supply for dairies like AE and result in higher milk prices for consumers," she said. "Last year, milk prices increased nationally on average by 11 percent, driving consumers to purchase fewer gallons of milk. A gallon of milk is the foundation for most dairies like ours."
Dairy exports account for nearly two-thirds of recent dairy industry growth – up nearly $3 billion since 2000. In 2011 alone, U.S. dairy exports set record highs, jumping 13 percent in volume and gaining more than 20 percent in value. The U.S. Department of Agriculture job forecasts also clearly suggest this growth benefits jobs, too. In 2011, the USDA estimated that 8,400 jobs are created for every $1 billion increase in agriculture exports.
Davisco's Davis said, "We are a family business that both produces and buys a whole lot of milk. The Dairy Security Act intends to limit the production of that milk in order to try and manipulate the price of milk. In doing so, the act will limit our ability to increase our sales opportunities all around the world."
"Hilmar has invested millions of dollars to take advantage of the growing international demand for dairy," said Ahlem of Hilmar Cheese Company. "In the past five years, our export volumes have increased significantly. Over the last two years, we have nearly doubled the capacity of our plant in Dalhart, Texas—a growing dairy region—adding new production lines and adding 150 new jobs."
An audio recording of the event will be posted to www.idfa.org after 5:00 P.M. today.
Statement of Miriam Erickson Brown
The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), headquartered in Washington, D.C., represents the nation's dairy manufacturing and marketing industries and their suppliers, with a membership of 550 companies representing a $110 billion a year industry. IDFA is composed of three constituent organizations: the Milk Industry Foundation (MIF), the National Cheese Institute (NCI) and the International Ice Cream Association (IICA). IDFA's 220 dairy processing members run more than 600 plant operations, and range from large multi-national organizations to single-plant companies. Together they represent more than 85% of the milk, cultured products, cheese and frozen desserts produced and marketed in the United States. IDFA can be found online at www.idfa.org.
Source: International Dairy Foods Association
