Russ Feingold: “today I rise to introduce three bills which attempt to rectify three different problems with domestic dairy policy. My…”

“today I rise to introduce three bills which attempt to rectify three different problems with domestic dairy policy. My State of Wisconsin is home to more than 26,000 dairy farmers. Over the past 4 years during the more than 288 listening sessions I've held in Wisconsin counties, I have heard from many of those dairy farmers on the issues addressed by the legislation I am introducing today. The first bill I am introducing today, if enacted, will be a first step towards rectifying the inequities in the Federal Milk Marketing Order system. The Federal Milk Marketing Order system, created 60 years ago, establishes minimum prices for milk paid to producers throughout various marketing areas in the United States. My legislation is very simple. It identifies the single most inequitable and injurious provision in the current system, and corrects it. That provision--known as single basing point pricing--is USDA's practice of basing prices for fluid milk--Class I milk--in all marketing areas east of the Rocky Mountains on the distance from Eau Claire, WI, when there is little economic justification for doing so.”