A congressman from New York is inquiring about the status of the promised aid for storm-affected dairy producers and cooperatives.
During a hearing before the House Ag Committee on Wednesday, Republican Nick Langworthy informed Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack that winter storm Elliot devastated the northeast in December 2022, leading to the shutdown of dairy facilities and the massive disposal of milk. To make matters worse, farmers in my region had to deal with the unpleasant truth that their milk couldn’t be collected or delivered.
Although Langworthy expressed gratitude for the USDA’s Milk Loss Program, he expressed curiosity about the timing of payment for cooperative losses and asked the Secretary to clarify this matter. Our farmers have been waiting for payment for about fifteen months, and it’s outrageous. I find it very distressing that there has been absolutely no contact with farmers and that we have not received any compensation for the losses incurred by the cooperative.
Vilsack said that he is unaware of the current situation with the Milk Loss Program cooperative payments.
