Saturday, August 23, 1997

Thousands of milk price petitions to be presented

By J.T. Smith

Texas Farmers Union plans to show the U.S. Congress and national leaders just how serious the dairy dilemma has become.

TFU is urging dairy farmers to fill out and mail in milk price petitions that were sent to them during the last few weeks as part of a campaign for a national floor price on milk.

Members from Texas will join Farmers Union members from throughout the United States for the National Farmers Union annual legislative fly-in Sept. 6-10 in Washington, D.C.

The group is scheduled to meet with President Bill Clinton on Sept. 8.

Farmers Union members also will meet with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman along with congressional leaders.

Sweetwater dairyman urges unity

"Farmers Union has received thousands of petitions at its state and national offices and has fielded hundreds of calls from producers who support the campaign," said Wes Sims, a Sweetwater dairyman. "We believe there are a lot more producers, businesses, and consumers that support the campaign but who may not be aware of the urgency."

Sims, who serves as Texas Farmers Union president, said that producers' petitions must arrive at the TFU office by Sept. 1 to be included with the petitions presented at the fly-in.

"Farmers cannot continue to produce milk at prices at or below those of 20 years ago and expect to stay in business," Sims said. "And when dairy farmers go out of business, related sectors of the economy will suffer as well."

Sims noted that the petitions can be signed by anyone concerned with low milk prices, and that they need not be producers. Questions about the campaign can be directed to: Texas Farmers Union at 1-(800) 299-3276.

Anyone interested in participating in the NFU fly-in to Wasington can call that same number.

Farmers Union wants a basic price formula

"Farmers Union is pushing for a basic formula price based on production costs, wholesale cheese prices, and retail milk prices," Sims said. "When the National Cheese Exchange closed, USDA agreed to base the price on wholesale cheese prices. Their responsiveness is very encouraging, but we need a price that (also) will take into account producers' costs and retail prices."

NFU's campaign to reform dairy policy also is calling for federal oversight of the new Chicago Mercantile Exchange for cheese, legislation outlawing "trading against interest" on commodity markets, and public education on the disparity between producers' and retail prices for dairy products.

Petitions should be mailed to: Texas Farmers Union, P.O. Box 7276, Waco, Texas 76714.