Some of the changes include shutting down the Dairy Product Price Support Program and the Milk Income Loss Contract, or MILC, in the next Farm Bill. Both programs have funneled billions of dollars into the coffers of struggling dairies, but the federation argues that it has been largely ineffective.
MILC makes payments to dairymen when prices fall, but benefits are capped after the first 3 million gallons of milk produced, the annual output of perhaps 200 cows.
The average herd size in south-central Idaho in 2008 was more than 1,100 cows, according to the Idaho Dairymen’s Association.
“These prices are not relevant to farmers in 2010,”said Jerry Kozak, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation, “and it only works when producers sell to the government and get the product off the market.”
The federation also proposes to establish a new program called the Dairy Producer Margin Protection Program, which would support producer margins — unlike current federal programs that support prices. The program would act as form of insurance which pays producers based on the price per hundredweight of milk, minus the cost of feed needed to produce the milk.
What bullshit, both literal and figurative.
And, these aren't even new tea-party based Congresscritters, whom you expect to be hypocritical on things like congressional perks.
No, these are "rugged individualualist" libertarian Westerners, whom you expect to be hypocritical on things like government handouts. Nonetheless, the ramped-up level of hypocrisy is a bit surprising.
But, to be honest, if there are any "family" dairy farmers still in Idaho, they're not behind this ... this is all "big boys." It's clear from the push to remove caps on herd size and supports, and the out-of-state backing for this.
I'm sure Idaho potato farmers are next in line. Rock-ribbed-conservative Mormons looking for a government handout.
