Legislation to Promote Pricing Transparency for Dairy Farmers Advances, Says Lawrence
HARRISBURG – Legislation which calls for milk pricing transparency and introduced by Rep. John Lawrence (R-Chester/Lancaster) passed the House on Monday, Dec. 8. The bill requires any payment (typically a “milk check”) made to a farmer clearly to delineate the dollar amount collected from the state-mandated over-order premium.
“This legislation,
House Bill 1265, will ensure transparency and accountability for the state-mandated over-order premium for all Pennsylvania dairy farmers,” Lawrence said. “Many Pennsylvania dairy farmers currently do not know how or if the state-mandated over-order premium benefits them. This is wrong. House Bill 1265, as passed by the House, would ensure every Pennsylvania dairy farmer knows how much of his or her milk check comes from these state-mandated premiums.”
Testimony earlier this year before the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee confirmed that some Pennsylvania over-order premium money is being paid to out-of-state dairy farmers.
“Such admissions demand greater transparency and accountability with this state-mandated milk premium, to ensure Pennsylvania dairy farmers are receiving the full benefit of the over-order premium,” noted Lawrence.
The state-mandated over-order premium is established by the Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board, and is assessed on Class I fluid milk produced, processed and sold in Pennsylvania. The premium currently stands at 16 cents per gallon.
The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Representative John Lawrence
13th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Morgan Dux
717.260.6695
mdux@pahousegop.com
RepLawrence.com / Facebook.com/RepLawrence