CCC Milk To Enter Domestic Feeding Programs

USDA will transfer approximately 200-million pounds of nonfat dry milk from the Commodity Credit Corporation to USDA's Food and Nutrition Service for use in domestic feeding programs. The nonfat dry milk will be further processed or bartered. The products are expected to include items such as nonfat dry milk, ultra high temperature milk, cheese, and soups for domestic feeding programs.

In making the announcement, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said, President Obama understands that providing food to those in need will help many weather these tough economic times. At the same time, the Secretary said, - USDA's disposal plan will benefit dairy farmers, who have seen markets disappear and prices plummet in recent months.

In January, a bipartisan group of 36 Members of Congress sent a letter encouraging Secretary Vilsack to use USDA authority to make dairy purchases for feeding programs. House Ag Committee Chairman Collin Peterson called this a – win-win- situation that will offer relief to our nation's dairy farmers and low income American families. NFU President Roger Johnson called the Secretary’s announcement – the right step in the right direction.