A Resolution in Support of U.S. Agriculture
Relating to the Dairy Pricing Crisis
WHERAS, the current absence of profitable prices in the
dairy industry for farmers, coupled with an outdated regulatory apparatus, is
causing an economic crisis in the dairy industry, and
WHEREAS, dairy farm prices are at their lowest level in more than thirty years, while producers’ operating costs have steadily risen, exacerbated by the rise in energy prices and feed costs, and
WHEREAS, milk and dairy products are considered to be essential food and beverage items and basic nutritional building blocks, and
WHEREAS, there is a need for an immediate examination of existing federal programs and policies impacting the dairy industry in order to develop approaches that better help to stabilize farm incomes, and hence benefit farmers as well as local communities and local infrastructure, and
WHEREAS, there is a renewed recognition by dairy farm and dairy industry leaders from all sections of the United States that the current pricing crisis is not of benefit to farmers or their customers, including cooperatives, processors, retailers, and consumers,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLED, that the National Lt. Governors Association recognizes the importance of an economically viable dairy industry, and its benefit to local economies as well as the national economy,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the National Lt. Governors Association urges the leadership of the U.S. dairy industry, including the leadership of its two major trade organizations, the National Milk Producers Federation and the International Dairy Foods Association, to take steps to bring all industry leaders together immediately to identify measures, including change to federal polices and programs, to minimize price volatility risk now being experienced by dairy farmers across the United States,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the leadership be urged to work cooperatively with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and his staff as well as Congressional leadership on these issues insomuch as federal policies and procedures have an impact on domestic and international dairy prices, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the U.S. Senate, and the appropriate chairs of the congressional committees, and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, and the National Milk Producers Federation, and the International Dairy Foods Association, and that the NLGA make all state elected officials aware of passage of the resolution through a notice in StateNews magazine, and that the NLGA further post the full text of the resolution to its web page making the resolution available at all times for all NLGA members, state elected officials, and other interested parties.
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Passed this 30th day of July, 2009
Sponsor: Lt. Governor Brian Dubie, Vermont
Co-Sponsor: Lt. Governor Tim Murray, Massachusetts
Lt. Governor Michael Fedele, Connecticut
Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, Wisconsin
Lt. Governor Patty Judge, Iowa
Lt. Governor Bill Bolling, Virginia
Lt. Governor John Bohlinger, Montana
Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo, Kentucky
Lt. Governor Carol Molnau, Minnesota
Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy, Nebraska
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