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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to agriculture
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Establishes a dairy assistance program
In Assembly Committee · Agriculture · Sponsor William Magee
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to establishing a dairy assistance program; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
The Dairy Investment Act creates a dairy assistance program which would provide a one-time direct support payment to New York's dairy producers. This program recognizes the continued challenges New York dairy farmers face from increasing feed costs, high fuel prices and low milk prices.
Summary of provisions
Agriculture and Markets Law is amended to create the dairy assistance program through which an appropriation of $60 million of federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is to be paid to New York dairy farmers.
Eligible milk producers shall be paid the difference between target prices to be established by the commissioner and the combined announced Northeast Federal Order Statistical Uniform Price plus the amount of the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) payment rate on a per-hundred weight basis for milk production during July 2008 through June 2009.
Only commercially marketed milk is eligible for the dairy assistance program. Payment will be provided as a separate check to dairy producers from the State of New York.
The Farm Services Agency will provide the Department of Agriculture and Markets production data for dairy producers based on production data for the MILC program. Farmers not participating in the MILC program will need to provide the Department with the necessary production data in order to receive payment. In such cases, verifiable production evidence of milk production will be required (i.e. Milk Marketing Payment Stubs, Bulk Tank Records, Milk Handler Records, Daily Milk Marketing Records).
Justification
The Dairy Investment Act creates a $60 million dairy assistance program which would provide a one-time direct support payment to New York's dairy producers. In 2008-09, New York's dairy farms have faced unprecedented losses due to a "perfect storm" of extremely low milk prices well below those of 25 years ago along with very high fuel, feed, energy, fertilizer and other operating costs. In response to these continued challenges for New York dairy farmers, the dairy assistance program provides a direct cash payment to dairy farmers to help them remain viable in such dire economic conditions.
Agriculture and, particularly, the dairy industry is the backbone of New York's upstate economy and local communities. New York is the nation's third largest dairy state, generating $2.3 billion in sales, with nearly 6,000 dairy farms and 626,000 dairy cows that produce over 12 billion pounds of milk.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
One-time appropriation of $60 million of federal stimulus funds from funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Effective date
Effective immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed December 31, 2010.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.