Bipartisan group working for dairy farms across the country
WASHINGTON, DC – As part of National Agriculture Week, today Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) introduced the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act of 2023 ensuring that dairy farmers have the ability to price their products to reflect today’s market environment. This bipartisan bill will help bring transparency and modernize the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system so our farmers have confidence in their product pricing that are reflective of today’s standards. The bill was introduced with Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25) and has a Senate companion led by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
On the introduction of the bill, Congressman Langworthy said, “New York is one of the top dairy producing states in America and the entire nation depends on the ability of our farmers to make ends meet and get their products onto shelves. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I have listened to the challenges dairy farmers are facing with volatility in the marketplace that puts their operations at grave risk. This critical bill will provide much-needed stability and certainty to ensure that our farmers can do what they do best: produce food for Americans. I am proud to work with my fellow New York Congressman Joe Morelle, and our partners Senators Gillibrand and Collins, to work on getting this passed into law.”
“Volatility in the dairy market means uncertainty for farmers and consumers alike, and it’s critical we take action to ensure everyone receives the fairest price possible,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “By providing farmers with additional confidence in the dairy pricing system, the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act will help create more stability in the dairy market and support New York State’s proud history of dairy production. I’m proud to introduce this bill alongside Congressman Langworthy and Senators Gillibrand and Collins, and I look forward to working with them to see it passed into law.”
“Federal milk marketing reform is a key priority for AFBF, and we are pleased to see Rep. Langworthy incorporate several of our requested changes into the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act. Dairy farmers deserve clarity and confidence in how they are paid, and all-inclusive cost and yield surveying of processors is a good first step to ensure make allowances are being calculated fairly and accurately. Switching back to the “higher-of” Class I formula as quickly as possible is a priority of our dairy farmers. We commend Rep. Langworthy for including a provision that would require USDA to initiate a National Federal Order hearing process that will allow us to pursue this change administratively while we also pursue the change legislatively. We look forward to working with Rep. Langworthy to get this legislation passed,” said Zippy Duvall, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
“Meaningful Federal Milk Market Order reform is essential for New York’s dairy farms to help ensure they receive a fair price for their milk. Farm Bureau has long been advocating for federal order changes and created a special working group made up of farmers and industry leaders to help identify areas for key change. We thank Representatives Langworthy and Morelle for introducing the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act which will modernize the federal milk marketing order system to more equitably support our farms and food supply,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President and dairy farmer.
Congressmen Langworthy and Morelle have the support of Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22), Congressman Trent Kelly (MS-01), Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Congresswoman Mary E. Miller (IL-15), Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09), Congressman Chris Stewart (UT-02), and Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), all original cosponsors of this bill.
To read the House version of the bill, please click here.
Congressman Nick Langworthy represents the 23rd Congressional District of New York which includes Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben Counties and parts of Erie County. Visit langworthy.house.gov.
