U.S. Coalition Urges 'Supply-Management' Law to Save Small-Scale Dairy Farms

The U.S. National Family Farm Coalition (NFFC) is advocating for a legislative proposal known as the Milk from Family Dairies Act, which seeks to introduce supply-management policies in the dairy sector similar to those in Canada. This initiative aims to counteract the decades-long trend of consolidation and the decline of small, family-run farms.

Key Issues Highlighted

• The number of dairy farms in the U.S. has dramatically decreased from approximately 648,000 in the 1970s to fewer than 25,000 today.
• As farm sizes increase, small processors and producers face logistical challenges such as milk collection and fair pricing.
• The NFFC advocates for government policy that ensures stable pricing and production aligned with demand, supporting smaller dairies and avoiding market dynamics that favor large-scale operations.
• There is opposition from Congress, mainly from dairy interests benefiting from the current export-oriented models and those favoring large-scale operations.