MURPHY URGES MORE SUPPORT FOR CONNECTICUT DAIRY FARMERS
HARTFORD – In response to today’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it will purchase $20 million worth of surplus dairy products to help stabilize the dairy market, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) urged USDA to do more to help dairy farmers. Farm milk prices have dropped almost 40%in the last few years—meaning Connecticut dairy farmers are struggling to bring in the revenues they need to stay afloat. Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 authorizes the USDA to use fiscal year 2016 funds to purchase surplus food for food banks and for families benefiting from nutrition assistance programs. “This is a step in the right direction, but the reality is dairy farmers need more,” said…