FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 3, 1995
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty (202) 225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC -- "This has been a long road to travel, but we are finally ready to overhaul the government dairy program and I am going to work hard to see that Minnesota dairy farmers are treated fairly," said Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) today.
Congressman Steve Gunderson (F-Wis.), Chairman of the Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee, today released his subcommittee's dairy proposal. Peterson, a member of the subcommittee, has worked hand-in-hand with Gunderson to produce this plan, which would establish a single, national set of rules for the pricing and marketing of milk and dairy products.
"I have spent many months meeting with members of a Minnesota dairy task force I established to find out what they needed in the 1995 Farm Bill," Peterson said. "In April, I traveled to several states for subcommittee hearings on dairy to find out what issues were important to other dairy farmers. I plan to continue to meet with Minnesota dairy farmers as we draft the legislation."
The dairy proposal will permit American products to become competitive in the 21st Century international market. And during the transition into the world market, the proposal will help maintain national net dairy farm revenue.
"I will be working closely with Gunderson to draft this legislation, and we expect to be done by the end of August," Peterson continued. "It is our plan to ensure a secure and prosperous dairy policy for Midwest dairy farmers, as well as for dairy farmers all across the United States."