Schumer says temporary farm bill extension means NY farmers avoid ‘dairy cliff’

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced a critical extension of the federal farm bill for one year, effectively averting a potential “dairy cliff” for New York farmers.

The extension, part of a stopgap spending bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown, received Congressional approval and was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

This move ensures the continuation of the 2018 farm bill, which includes the Dairy Margin Coverage program, a key safety net for dairy farmers.

The program provides monthly payments to dairy farmers when milk prices fall below a certain threshold relative to feed costs. This program replaced the earlier Margin Protection Program and is crucial for dairy farmers, particularly in states like New York, one of the top five dairy-producing states in the U.S.

As Congress continues to deliberate on a long-term farm bill, which is typically renewed every five years, Schumer emphasized the importance of this temporary extension.