2009 AMPI Legislative Agenda

• Ensure effective implementation of farm bill programs.
• Support purchases of dairy products for federal nutrition programs.
• Urge budget committees to avoid further cuts in agriculture.
• Support immigration reform that does not adversely affect dairy producers.
• Work with dairy industry to lessen the impact of new rendering regulations.
• Correct the farm bill payment limitations on family operations with retired shareholders.
• Impose tariff-rate quotas on imported milk proteins.
• Maintain high dairy products standards.

2009 AMPI Policy Statement

• A national dairy product price support program should reflect the cost and needs of America’s dairy farmers.
• Mandatory supply management is the most effective way to enhance market-based farm income.
• Countercyclical payments, such as the Milk Income Loss Contract program, are acceptable as short-term income.
• Limiting imports will protect domestic dairy prices.
• Dairy product standards should be maintained.
• Bioterrorism and disease are threats from which the dairy industry must be protected.
• Federal milk market orders should facilitate efficient marketing of all classes of milk, while pooling benefits nationally.
• Regional policies such as dairy compacts help some producers at the expense of others.

  
Approved by the AMPI Corporate Board of Directors Feb. 25, 2009