The FY2010 Ag Appropriations bill is still on “hold” in the Senate because of a dispute over how $290 million in direct payments to dairy producers should be distributed. Wisconsin Farmers Union President and former FSA chief Doug Caruso says the simplest, quickest way to get that money out to producers is through the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program. “The mechanism is there,” says Caruso, “to design and develop a new program, there are a whole lot of rules that need to be followed.” He notes speed is of the essence as so many producers need that money now, “They can’t wait three months or six months or whatever it would take to get a new program going.”
It seems the biggest objection to MILC is that payments are capped at the production of around 220 cows; larger dairies say that is unfair. One possible compromise would be to raise the cap for this round of payments but Caruso says that is up to the members of Congress.
AUDIO: Doug Caruso gives his reasons for using MILC 3:45
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