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Ag groups don’t agree on Canadian dairy policy

U.S. farm organizations don’t all agree on the U.S.-Canadian dairy trade issue.  Wisconsin Farmers Union’s Kara O’Conner tells Brownfield they would like to see supply management in the U.S. similar to what Canada has.  “We think it is just good business sense to produce in relationship with what the market is demanding.”

And, O’Conner says some U.S. milk processors have already asked their dairy farmers to cap production.  “We’re seeing a really positive trend, especially led by cooperatives like Land O Lakes and Family Dairies U.S.A. to ask all of the farmers to pitch in and hold the line on their production in order to balance out the market and make sure that they are not producing more than they can process.”

Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Government Relations Director Karen Gefvert tells Brownfield they have not taken a position on U.S. dairy supply management.  “As legitimate farm bill discussions move forward and we see what viable options are out there and on the table, we will be vetting those issues through our dairy committee as well as our board of directors.”

The Wisconsin Holstein Association’s board of directors issued a statement encouraging government leaders to find a solution to what they call, “Canada’s disregard of NAFTA trade obligations.”  President Donald Trump promised he would protect U.S. dairy farmers during a stop in Wisconsin a week ago, saying he would find a solution by renegotiating or eliminating NAFTA.

Nationally, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, International Dairy Foods Association, and National Milk Producers have all encouraged President Trump to take action against Canada’s national milk ingredients strategy, which created a new Class 7 price in their supply management system, but the USDEC, IDFA, and NMPF all claim it violates the terms of NAFTA and allows Canada to flood the world’s powdered dairy market.