For immediate release: December 17, 2009

For More Information Contact:
Adrienne Joseph
715-214-7244
ajoseph@wisconsinfarmersunion.com

WFU commends USDA for providing financial relief to dairy farmers

Chippewa Falls, Wis. (December 17, 2009) - Wisconsin Farmers Union President Doug Caruso commended the U.S. Department of Agriculture for implementing the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment program. The program will administer the $290 million in dairy aid set aside in the FY2010 Agriculture Appropriations Act.

USDA announced the DELAP program would begin processing payments on Dec. 17 and farmers will begin receiving payments in the next few weeks.

"We commend the USDA for acting quickly to establish a program to provide financial relief to the nation's struggling dairy farmers," Caruso said. "The substantial fall of dairy pricing this year combined with rising input costs put dairy farmers in the worst economic crisis in 30 years."

Caruso acknowledged the work of U.S. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dave Obey, D-Wis., and U.S. Senate Agriculture Appropriations Chairman Herb Kohl, D-Wis., in retaining the additional dairy assistance in the ag appropriations bill.

"Due to the diligent efforts of Rep. Obey and Sen. Kohl, dairy farmers will now see some immediate financial relief," Caruso said. "While this program does not begin to solve the long-term problems that lurk in the dairy industry, it does provide some immediate assistance to Wisconsin's family dairy farmers."

During the organization's fall legislative fly-in to Washington, D.C., WFU members advocated for the amendment to the ag appropriations bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sander, I-Vt., allowing $350 million in additional assistance to struggling dairy farmers. Of that $350 million, $60 million would be used to purchase surplus cheese and other dairy products and $290 million would be used to provide direct assistance to farmers as determined by the USDA.

The ag appropriations bill, including the dairy aid amendment, was signed by President Obama in late October.