Clinton Marks National Dairy Month

Press Release

Clinton Marks National Dairy Month

Senator Meets with Dairy Farmers from Wyoming, Essex, Chemung, and Washington Counties in Washington, DC

Vows to Continue Fight for New York's Dairy Farmers in Upcoming Farm Bill Reauthorization

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton today marked National Dairy Month as a time to highlight the strengths of New York's dairy industry. Senator Clinton recently introduced the Milk Import Tariff Equity Act to level the playing field for domestic dairy producers and is working to again establish a strong safety-net for producers and provide vital funding for programs in the upcoming reauthorization of the 2007 Farm Bill.

The Senator also met yesterday with New York representatives from the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) in Washington, DC to discuss the farm labor situation, the upcoming farm bill, and her priorities for agricultural communities in New York and around the nation. Represented at the meeting were NMPF Young Cooperator Advisory Council members Elbert and Jennifer Hoffman of North Java, Erik and Christine Leerkes of Ticonderoga, Lance and Gina Blakemore of Horseheads, Larry and Amy Bailey of Fort Ann, Karen Cartier of Dairy Marketing Services, and Roger Eldridge of the National Milk Producers Federation.

"New York's dairy farmers are integral to our state's economy and to our communities. Our dairy farming industry not only plays an important economic role, it also contributes to healthier families in New York and across the country," Senator Clinton said. "As we mark Dairy Month and reauthorize the farm bill, we have two great opportunities to promote our dairy industry. I have long fought to help our dairy farmers and will continue, through Dairy Month and beyond, to keep this critical industry thriving in New York."

With the farm bill reauthorization taking place this year, Senator Clinton has been working with other dairy state leaders such as Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to again establish a reliable safety-net for producers and provide vital funding for programs that improve and enhance milk production across the country. Senator Clinton has long supported the Milk Income Loss Contract Program which helps dairy farmers in times of fluctuating prices.

Senator Clinton's other priorities in the 2007 Farm Bill for dairy producers include securing more conservation funding for the Environment Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), strengthening and expanding initiatives designed to target food outreach, and encouraging renewable energy production.

Beyond the farm bill, Senator Clinton has also been working hard to help provide the dairy industry with a reliable and more stable workforce by supporting AgJobs legislation and has led or co-sponsored other programs including the School Food Fresh Act, The Quality Cheese Act, and the Strategic Energy Fund to make positive changes in opportunities for rural America.

This year, U.S. dairy farmers are projected to generate $25.8 billion in sales, while New York State dairy farmers will contribute $1.8 billion of the total U.S. sales and provide 62,000 jobs. The New York dairy industry prides itself on having over 7,000 dairy farms, 680,000 cows and producing a total of 12 billion pounds of milk per year. Those numbers rank New York as third in the country.

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