WASHINGTON — Dairy producers got a welcome surprise Dec. 18 when they found out the U.S. is purchasing $60 million in cheese and cheese products.
Benefits many
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement that the Commodity Credit Corporation is making the purchase (CCC) for use in domestic feeding programs through USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service. The USDA is expediting this cheese purchase to help provide much-needed support for low-income families struggling to put nutritious food on their tables, and to deliver timely assistance to dairy farmers who have been challenged by high feed costs and low dairy prices.
High demand
Along with providing market benefits for U.S. dairy producers, commodity purchases such as the $60 million announced provide much-needed food aid – in the form of high-protein cheese – to food banks across our nation. This aid comes at a time when demand on the nation’s food banks has reached an all-time high.
Authorization
The 2010 Agricultural Appropriations Act authorized $60 million for the purchase of cheese and cheese products. This cheese purchase marks the second of two steps announced this week by USDA to utilize a total of $350 million authorized under the Act.
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Seriously? Teachers are being laid off by the hundred, school districts are cutting the arts, sports, and after-school programs all over the country, and we spend 60mil on government cheese?