Farm Bill Makes Significant Dairy Policy Reforms

The farm bill, or Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, makes promised reforms to better serve dairy farmers. The National Milk Producers Federation says the bill, being considered this week, provides support to a struggling dairy sector.

The updated dairy program includes higher coverage levels in a renamed Margin Protection Program that address deficiencies in the current program’s feed-cost formula, greater flexibility to allow producers of all sizes to access Tier 1 premium rates, and expanded access to additional risk management tools, allowing producers to participate in both MPP and the Livestock Gross Margin insurance program. Also applauded by NMPF, the bill includes full funding for trade promotion programs and nutrition provision intended to enhance consumption of fluid milk.

NMPF says the law’s provisions build on improvements enacted in the Bipartisan Budget Act earlier this year, including dairy safety net reforms as well as risk management provisions.

Source; NAFB News