McCaskill Helps Struggling Independent Producers in Missouri

Press Release

This week, the U.S. Senate passed two important amendments, cosponsored by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, to the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill that will help level the playing field for struggling producers in Missouri. The two measures would help independent dairy producers better compete in their market and protect livestock producers against a mandatory National Animal Identification System (NAIS), which disproportionately raises costs on small and medium-sized livestock producers across the United States, and in particular Missouri.

"I have spent some time on the phone over the last few weeks with independent dairy producers in Missouri, and it's heartbreaking what is happening. You know, in this economic downturn, it's hard to look everywhere we need to be looking," McCaskill said, speaking about the amendment to help dairy producers on the Senate floor yesterday.

The first of the two amendments, which is sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT), will provide additional funding to adjust the dairy market so that independent producers are able to compete and stay afloat in a struggling agricultural economy.

The second amendment, sponsored by Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), will decrease the funding for the implementation of the National Animal Identification Program (NAIS) from $14.6 million to $7.3 million, creating a roadblock towards implementation of a mandatory animal identification program.

"Missouri is the number two calf/cow state in the nation. We've got a lot of small and mid-sized producers who are struggling just to cover their basic costs right now. Any additional overhead will put these guys out of business," McCaskill said.

Both of these amendments were added to the final version of the bill that the Senate passed. The FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations bill passed the Senate by a vote of 80-17. Senator McCaskill supported final passage.

Source