WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement dairy provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill to provide Arizona dairy farmers the economic certainty they need.
“Arizona dairy farmers play an important role growing our economy and creating jobs. It is critical for us to support our farmers by providing the certainty they need for continued success,” said Sinema.
“The Arizona Farm Bureau supports the implementation of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill). Moreover, AZFB supports the request sent to the USDA to prioritize the implementation of Dairy Margin Coverage and other 2018 Farm Bill dairy provisions. The implementation of these measures will greatly benefit Arizona dairies; which are currently facing market instability and struggling to survive the fourth year of sustained low prices,” said the Arizona Farm Bureau.
Currently, dairy farmers in Arizona are struggling due to market instability. The 2018 Farm Bill dramatically expands support for dairy producers, providing flexible, affordable coverage options through the Dairy Margin Coverage program. Early analysis has shown that the improvements would provide much-needed financial support to dairy farmers – providing significant benefits for all operations and up to five times as much support for the smallest farms.
The full text of the letter is available HERE.