From Spotlight PA
The dairy business is a tough one, and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro wants millions of dollars in funding to help farmers mitigate the risk.
Shapiro’s latest budget pitch includes $5.6 million to create a state subsidy that would lessen sign-up costs for a federal program that gives farmers direct payments to help them deal with volatile milk and feed prices.
Pennsylvania has 4,940 dairy farms. Of those, 1,778 are enrolled in the federal Dairy Margin Coverage Protection Program, which made $102 million in payments statewide last year.
Butler County dairy farmer William Thiele said some farmers don’t want government support, while others might not know the program exists.
Pennsylvania state Reps. Emily Kinkead (D., Allegheny) and Marci Mustello (R., Butler) are looking to Minnesota as a model for legislation that would enable Shapiro’s ask. But while agriculture investments have received bipartisan support in Harrisburg, total spending is already raising hackles.
Read Spotlight PA’s full report: Pa. dairy farmers could see financial boost from Shapiro’s proposed subsidy program.
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