[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 109 (Thursday, June 27, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING AMERICA'S DAIRY FARMERS DURING NATIONAL DAIRY MONTH

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                          HON. JAMES R. BAIRD

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 27, 2019

  Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize our nation's 
dairy farmers. Since 1937, the month of June has been set aside to 
celebrate National Dairy Month.
  The dairy industry, and the products it produces, is extremely 
important to the agricultural sector and hundreds of millions of 
Americans and consumers around the world. It generates $38 billion of 
direct wages for 3 million jobs on 37,000 family-owned dairy farms and 
related industries.
  But times have been tough in recent years with narrow margins and low 
to no profitability. In fact, this is the fifth consecutive year that 
we've had low prices, pushing 2,700 dairy farmers out of business in 
2018.
  That's why USDA's Dairy Margin Coverage Program is so important to 
the American dairy industry. The Dairy Margin Coverage program will 
provide farmers with better coverage for lower premiums, including a 
retro-active start which means our dairy farmers will be able to get 
help with over 5 months of tough losses.
  As we honor the dairy producers in our communities this month, I 
encourage all of our Hoosier dairy farmers to sign up for their program 
in order to secure much needed protection during times of uncertainty. 
I thank them for their tireless work for the American people.

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