Tom Latham: “I think it is fascinating the way this amendment reads. None of the funds made available in this act may be used to fund…”

“I think it is fascinating the way this amendment reads. None of the funds made available in this act may be used to fund dairy education in Iowa. Now, I don't know whether that means, apparently, it is okay to educate people about dairy in Wisconsin and Minnesota and Arizona; I think we should. I don't know what you have necessarily against dairymen in Iowa. Mr. Chairman, the funds contained in the bill for the northeast Iowa dairy education project are extremely important to Iowa's dairy industry because they help foster and enhance the development of new dairy-producing operations and mostly among young dairy farmers. Throughout the northeast region in my district, I hear about the continuing success of this program and how the program has made meaningful differences to the small dairy producers in this part of the State. If one is a small dairy producer, of which there are many in the State, continuing education is very important. The education project aids the retention and growth of existing dairy farms and responds to challenges to dairy farmers. This project is also important to necessary research, and it is coordinated with Iowa State University, also the National Animal Disease Center; it coordinates with this project. And it really is something that goes to not only diseases but state-of-the-art production and environmental management techniques.…”