WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to raise dairy support prices and close the gap between operational costs and revenue for our nation’s dairy farmers. Earlier this week, Brown wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to increase farm-level prices through the Dairy Product Price Support Program (DPPSP).

“I’m encouraged by the actions Sec. Vilsack and the USDA are taking to address the challenges that Ohio’s dairy farmers are facing,” Brown said. “In this crisis, the USDA is taking an important step to strengthen and support the dairy industry and rural communities in Ohio and across the nation.” 

Earlier this week, Brown wrote:

“To bolster our nation’s dairy sector and increase the price of milk received by farmers, I urge you to temporarily increase purchase prices under the Dairy Price Support Program. I am confident that this will ensure an immediate and vital safety net that will help keep many farmers afloat during this economic downturn.”

The full contents of Brown’s letter emphasizing the importance of Ohio’s dairy industry to the state’s agricultural economy and calling for the USDA to expand support for our nation’s dairy farmers can be found here.  

Brown is the first Ohioan to serve on the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee in more than 40 years.