The bill would create a federal dairy market stabilization program for commercial milk producers in the contiguous United States. The program would set production allowances, a minimum milk price based partly on dairy costs, and fees for producers who exceed their allowances. Fees would be redistributed as dividends to eligible producers who stay within their allowances. Certified organic dairy producers would be excluded. The bill would also change dairy import rules, require reports on market consolidation, and support dairy training and regional processing infrastructure.
Dairy producers could receive production allowances and a minimum price, and might pay fees for producing beyond their allowance. Producers that stay within their allowance could qualify for a share of collected fees if they are actively engaged in farming. The bill would also offer grants, loans, training, and technical assistance for dairy-related work and infrastructure. It would direct the Secretary of Agriculture to raise certain dairy import license fees and lower import quotas where trade agreements permit. The text does not specify how these provisions would affect retail dairy prices.
The bill authorizes $50 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 for specified dairy training and farmworker ownership programs, and another $50 million per year for 2027 through 2031 for small-scale dairy infrastructure grants. It would raise authorized funding for Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives from $20 million to $50 million. It would also amend funding levels for the Local Agriculture Market Program to $200 million for fiscal year 2027 and $75 million for fiscal year 2027. The Secretary may use sums necessary from the Commodity Credit Corporation for certain incentives during the program’s first two years. Regional administrative fees would be paid by producers. The text does not provide a total cost.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.