PRINTER'S NO. 1839
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
384
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY SCHWANK, ARGALL, BROWNE, GORDNER, HUGHES, WARD,
STREET, FOLMER, KILLION, SABATINA, WHITE, AUMENT AND BLAKE,
JUNE 11, 2018
REFERRED TO AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, JUNE 11, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to
conduct a study and issue a report making recommendations for
initiatives to assist dairy producers in this Commonwealth.
WHEREAS, Years of lower milk prices and decreasing sales of
packaged beverage milk products have placed dairy producers in
this Commonwealth and others across the country under severe
financial stress; and
WHEREAS, Many dairy producers in this Commonwealth and
across the country are forced to borrow against the equity in
their farm to continue the dairy operations; and
WHEREAS, Due to these factors, the typical response to lower
milk prices, increasing production to increase revenue, no
longer provides sufficient economic relief and overall may add
to a milk surplus, adversely affecting the prices that the
producer receives; and
WHEREAS, Increasingly, dairy producers are forced to leave
dairy production due to the financial stress; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate direct the Legislative Budget and
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Finance Committee to conduct a study and issue a report making
recommendations for measures to assist dairy producers in this
Commonwealth in response to decreasing demand for dairy products
and decreasing milk prices; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
identify the measures proposed or undertaken by the Pennsylvania
Milk Marketing Board and the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture to assist dairy producers in this Commonwealth; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
identify and examine the statutes, best practices and proposed
measures of other states to assist their dairy producers during
these economic times; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
identify current factors that contribute to the decrease in
dairy product consumption and milk prices; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
identify the number and types of specialty dairy products, such
as lactose-free milk, that are sold in this Commonwealth by out-
of-state dairy producers and examine how milk produced in this
Commonwealth can be utilized to meet the increased demand for
this specialty dairy products market; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
examine the testimony submitted at the public hearings held by
the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board regarding the Pennsylvania
dairy market; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
report all findings and conclusions on this issue to the Senate
within 12 months of the adoption of this resolution.
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