Penn State Ag Sciences Newsline -- July 29, 2008

New federal farm bill has help for Pennsylvania dairy producers (:50)

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Suggested Intro:

THE RECENTLY ENACTED 2008 FARM BILL HAS PROVISIONS IMPORTANT TO PENNSYLVANIA DAIRY PRODUCERS. THAT WORD FROM AN ECONOMIST IN PENN STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES. CHUCK GILL REPORTS:

Story:

(:10) THE NEW FARM BILL EXTENDS FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS THE MILK INCOME LOSS CONTRACT PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENTS TO DAIRY PRODUCERS WHEN MILK PRICES DROP BELOW A CERTAIN LEVEL.

(:12) BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE A FEED-COST ADJUSTMENT THAT WILL BE A FACTOR IN TRIGGERING PROGRAM PAYMENTS. PENN STATE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST JAMES DUNN SAYS THAT WILL HELP THE TYPICAL PENNSYLVANIA DAIRY FARMER:

Dunn Actuality:
(:16) "IN GENERAL, THE DAIRY FARMERS ARE HAVING TROUBLE PAYING SOME OF THEIR BILLS, YES. THE PRICE OF MILK IS HISTORICALLY HIGH, BUT THE PRICE OF PRODUCING IT IS ALSO HISTORICALLY HIGH. AND IF YOU'RE A FARMER WHOSE COSTS ARE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN TYPICAL OR HAVE TO PURCHASE A LOT OF YOUR FEED, YOU'RE PROBABLY REALLY FEELING IT RIGHT NOW."

(:12) DUNN SAYS THE PRICE DAIRY FARMERS PAY FOR CORN HAS QUADRUPLED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS -- AND THE PRICES OF FUEL, FERTILIZER, SEED AND CHEMICALS HAVE DOUBLED OR TRIPLED IN SOME CASES. FROM PENN STATE, I'M CHUCK GILL.

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Learn more:

New farm bill has key provisions for Pennsylvania

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