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House members ask Ag Secretary to speed up farm bill implementation

U.S. House members are asking USDA about new farm bill programs and if they can be implemented sooner.

Michigan Representative John Moolenaar asked Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue if he thinks the Dairy Margin Coverage program will get more enrollment than the old Margin Protection Program. “I expect enrollment certainly from those herds that are under the 250-300 cow herds, will virtually be everyone. I can’t imagine why a dairy would not sign up.”

Moolenaar asked Perdue if the implementation of DMC could be moved up earlier than the June 17^th target date. “This is a pretty aggressive goal that we are struggling to meet and it’s still on track. I don’t think we can do that any earlier.”

Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan agrees with Moolenaar, and says getting farm bill programs implemented as soon as possible is important. “Milk prices are low and quite honestly, the President’s trade policies have really hurt a lot of dairy farmers so the earlier we can get that going, it would be very much appreciated because it impacts a lot of farmers, not just in Michigan but also Wisconsin.”

The House Appropriations subcommittee asked Perdue about the proposed USDA budget, and several members were very critical of proposed changes to the SNAP program and the proposed relocation of ERS and NIFA away from Washington D.C.