Courtney: USDA Cheese Deal a 'Modest First Step' Toward State Dairy Market Assistance

TOLLAND, CT — U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney on Tuesday hailed a Tuesday U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement that it will purchase $20 million worth of cheese off the domestic dairy market, but added it is only a first step toward alleviating pressure in the industry.

The USDA’s action follows a bipartisan letter Courtney, a Democrat from the 2nd district, signed a few weeks ago asking USDA to take action to aid dairy producers struggling with declining milk prices.

The north central and eastern portions of Connecticut are industry players with strong dairy operations in Storrs, Mansfield and Ellington and a USDA regional office in Tolland. The University of Connecticut's extension program is a cheese producer.

“The dairy industry in Connecticut and across the country is continuing to struggle with tight margins and decreasing milk prices,” said Courtney. “While I appreciate USDA’s quick response to our urgent request for assistance for our dairy farmers, it is clear that this modest first step does not go far enough to make a substantial difference on the ground. I will continue to work with my colleagues to find long-term, comprehensive solutions to lift up our nation’s struggling dairy industry.”

Under the Tuesday announcement, the UDSA will purchase 11 million pounds of cheese from private inventories to assist food banks and pantries across the nation, which the USDA says will reduce a cheese surplus that is at its highest level in 30 years.

The USDA also announced today that it will extend the Margin Protect Program enrollment period from Sept. 30 to Dec. 16, 2016.

Earlier this month, USDA announced that it would be making $11.2 million in assistance available to MPP enrollees who purchased protection starting at the $6 per hundredweight level. Courtney said while this was welcome news in many parts of the country, Connecticut margins have typically been narrower than the national average used by the USDA, which puts farmers in the region at a competitive disadvantage.

As a co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Dairy Caucus, Congressman Courtney has been looking for assurance that federal dairy programs address the growing challenges faced by dairy farmers in Connecticut and across the country.

In April, Courtney introduced bipartisan legislation to use regional margin calculations rather than a national average in the MPP which will improve the program for Connecticut farmers.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel