U.S. Rep. Ron Kind has sent a letter to the Acting Secretary at the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging him to take immediate action to assist Wisconsin dairy farmers who are negatively impacted by Grassland Dairy Product’s decision to stop purchasing their milk. Grassland Dairy’s action was taken due to protectionist Canadian trade policies restricting American dairy exports in violation of their trade commitments to the United States.
“Over the past few days, I have heard directly from many Wisconsin dairy farmers who are deeply concerned about what this action by Grassland Dairy will mean for their family farms. Grassland’s decision further demonstrates why the U.S. needs to enact trade policies that level the playing field for our farmers. However, in the meantime I am calling on USDA to take all available steps to make sure Wisconsin dairy farmers do not lose their farms,” said Rep. Kind
In his letter, Kind requested a response within 10 days.
In regards to the trade dispute with Canada, Rep. Kind has had several conversations with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and others in the Trump Administration to make sure Wisconsin farmers have access to new markets to sell their products and to ensure that Canada’s dairy policies are a top priority in the context of any NAFTA renegotiation.
