Kagen Praises Relief To Dairy Producers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                                                          
December 17, 2009

KAGEN  PRAISES  RELIEF  TO  DAIRY  PRODUCERS

(APPLETON, WI)  Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. is protecting Wisconsin’s dairy farm families as further action is taken to put our economy on the road to recovery.  Kagen applauded the announcement today by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack of the new Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment (DELAP) program.  Kagen has been urging that loss assistance payments be made to eligible dairy producers. $350 million for such payments was included in the 2010 Agricultural Appropriations Bill which Kagen supported. Kagen is the only member of Congress from Wisconsin on the House Agriculture Committee.

“These payments will help eligible dairy producers stabilize their operations during these tough economic times,” said Kagen.  “I am working hard to help the industries which are the backbone of our community.  I have met with dairy farmers throughout Wisconsin and they have told me that when the price of milk falls they suffer.  I have taken their message to Congress and to the USDA and I am proud to say we are coming to their aid.”

According to estimates, farmers with an average 85-cow herd will receive approximately $5,000.

Eligible producers will receive a one-time direct payment based on the amount of milk both produced and commercially marketed by their operation during the months of February through July 2009.  Production information from these months will be used to estimate a full year’s production for an operation to calculate the payments, using a 6-million pound per dairy operation limit.  Dairy producers who have production records at the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office because they participated in another FSA dairy program do not need to apply for the program.  FSA will use existing production records for February through July 2009 to calculate and issue their payments.

For more information and eligibility requirements on the new DELAP program, please visit your local FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov .