Dairy producers are praising the passage of a new farm bill in congress. Local 10th district Congressman Paul Mitchell says the house version of the Agriculture and Nutrition Act includes retail incentives for the promotion of milk purchases, and increased flexibility in the amount of milk that can be insured by the USDA. Congressman Mitchell speaking to WPHM’s Paul Miller yesterday also says the bill will maintain the USDA’s sugar program. The program is the federal commodity support program that maintains a minimum price for sugar. Both sugar and dairy are big business in Michigan’s Thumb. The house version of the farm bill also tackles the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or S.N.A.P. commonly refereed to as “food stamps”. Mitchell says he supports a work requirement for those receiving federal food aid. The farm bill now moves to the senate.
