An article “Dairy farmers meet with state, national representatives”, which describes how the costs of milk production has gone up but the price paid to the farmers has gone down, goes on to report:
“[Congressman Joe] Pitts told them something is being done. He said federal Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack announced that the federal government would increase the price it pays for dairy products. That move will put $250 million in additional revenue in farmers pockets nationwide, the congressman said…
“The federal Agriculture Department also will make additional purchases and spend an additional $1 billion in milk- income support, he said…
“In Pennsylvania, prices are set by a three-member Milk Marketing Board. Historically, the board has tried to keep the wholesale price of milk at about half the price paid by consumers…”
WATCHDOG: Doesn’t the heavy subsidizing of milk lead to a glut which in turn depresses prices? Is keeping people living on dairy farms the best utilization of resources and taxes?
I guess the watchdog never drinks milk, probably never eats produce or meats.
I’d much rather have farmers farming, and producing the food and fiber that sustains us, rather than using tax dollars to ‘bail out’ greedy investors or a white elephant hotel/convention center.