Update for October 18, 2013 Federal Issues: Both the House and Senate have now appointed their conferees to work on the farm bill including four members from California. The California conferees include Reps. Jeff Denham R-10, Jim Costa, R-16, Gloria Negrete McLeod, D-35, and Ed Royce, R-39. Call California conferees today and urge them to include the “California Milk Marketing Order Act” in the conference committee version of the farm bill. Three of the four conferees are cosponsors of the “California Milk Marketing Order Act” including Reps. Denham, Costa and Negrete McLeod. Once the conference committee has concluded its work on the farm bill it will be voted on by the full House and Senate and sent to the President for his approval. Contact California members of the farm bill conference committee at 202-225-3121 and urge them to include the “California Milk Marketing Order Act” in the farm bill which was passed in the House farm bill. California Dairy Campaign (CDC) and California Farmers Union (CFU) continue to call on Congress to pass the “California Milk Marketing Order Act” (H.R. 1396) introduced by Reps. David Valadao and Jim Costa in the House and the companion bill in the Senate (S.663) introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein. The House farm bill includes the “California Milk Marketing Order Act” which would enable California to retain its quota system as it considers a move towards joining the federal milk marketing order system. Since 2009, the average sized dairy in California has been paid $745,000 less than a similar sized dairy in the federal order system. Since 2011 the average difference between the California blend price and the federal order price has averaged $1.05 per cwt. leading producers to lose $600 per cow on average compared to producers in the federal order. State Issues: The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is expected to announce its decision resulting from the September 12 hearing during the week of October 21. CDFA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and their partner agencies in the California/Federal Dairy Digester Working Group have announced a joint solicitation for dairy digester concept proposals. The notice can be found online at: waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/dairy_digester_proposal/dd_solicitation_guidance_v4.pdf Upcoming CDC Meetings and Events: On Tuesday afternoon, October 29 at 4:00 pm CDC board meeting in the CDC Turlock Office – all members and friends are welcome. CDC Board, staff and members will discuss the ongoing farm bill debate, the results of the state CDFA September 12 hearing, environmental, labor and other issues. Dinner will be served. Contact CDC Office Coordinator Bertha Medina to RSVP at 209-632-0885. On Monday morning, November 18 in Modesto CDC will host a meeting to discuss the conclusions of the study it prepared titled “Economic Feasibility of Dairy Digester Cluster in California: A Case Study.” The meeting will be an opportunity for dairy producers in the state to learn about the potential benefits of the expansion of dairy digesters throughout California. On Wednesday evening November 20, CDC will host its North Valley Social at the Fruit Yard Restaurant in Modesto. Dinner will be served and all CDC members and friends are welcome to join us for a discussion of a variety of issues affecting dairy producers. RSVP to CDC Office 209-632-0885. californiadairycampaign
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 22:21:45 +0000