Share:
Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 15, 2018 11:54 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Ryan P. Aument |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Resolution: Dairy Month in Pennsylvania |
| In the very near future, I plan to introduce a resolution designating the month of June as “Dairy Month” in Pennsylvania. Dairy farming is a major part of Pennsylvania’s agriculture and overall economy, generating $14.7 billion of economic activity annually. Pennsylvania ranks 6th nationally in milk production, and the state's 525,000 cows produce more than 10.8 billion pounds of milk annually, supporting more than 52,000 jobs across the state. But in 2016, the Commonwealth lost 120 dairy farms, and 1,200 dairy farms have been lost overall since 2012. Further, the retail price of milk has decreased by 50% since 2014. Compounding these difficulties, this spring, many of our dairy farmers were notified by Dean Foods that they would no longer be able to purchase their milk, leaving many with little time and options to find an alternative buyer. This extreme downturn in dairy consumption and production leading to what is now being called a “crisis”. In fact, a quote from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel states that, “The crisis is so dire that dairy marketing cooperatives have started providing suicide hotline information to members along with milk checks.” It is clear that now, more than ever, dairy farmers and their families need help. Working within thin profit margins and hostile market conditions has taken a toll, but the industry remains resilient and hopeful. To that end, please join me in co-sponsoring this resolution to recognize the tireless work of Pennsylvania dairy farmers, promote high-quality Pennsylvania dairy products, and bring awareness to the current hardships facing the industry. |
Introduced as SR403