[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 82 (Thursday, June 6, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1016]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       REPRESENTATIVE SHERWOOD BOEHLERT RELIEF FOR DAIRY FARMERS

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                       HON. SHERWOOD L. BOEHLERT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 1996

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 181, which calls on Agriculture Secretary 
Glickman to authorize the release of 200 million dollars' worth of 
grain reserves. This should bring some much-needed relief to farmers 
from across the country whose livelihoods are threatened by the worst 
drought in more than 100 years, coupled with the lowest livestock 
prices in 20 years.
  One generally thinks only of the Midwest and South, when there is a 
severe drought and low cattle prices, but in my neck of the woods--the 
Northeast--we are among the first to feel the effects of these 
disasters.
  It is my dairy farmers who must import most of their feed grain from 
the Midwest and South. When supplies are tight, as they are now, my 
farmers must pay incredibly high prices, if they can purchase feed at 
all.
  Also, most people don't realize that a majority of hamburg comes from 
dairy cows, not beef cattle--and this process represents more than 20 
percent of the dairy farmer's income. So when the livestock prices are 
so low, and feed prices are so high--dairy farmers face a double hit.
  As chairman of the Northeast Agriculture Caucus, and a Member who 
proudly represents more than 2,700 dairy farmers, I would like to thank 
Mr. Barrett and the Agriculture Committee for introducing this bill, 
and I urge its adoption for the good of our Nation's farmers.

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