The Hamilton Spectator

Dairy conundrum

David Clement emphatically states Canada should end its supply management system that keeps prices of dairy products high, and allow U.S. producers to flood the market with cheaper products. Let the farmers compete or close up shop. Nowhere does he mention that U.S. dairy farmers receive tens of billions from the U.S. government to keep them profitable. The U.S. dairy industry eliminates almost 50 million gallons of excess milk by dumping it in fields, or using it for animal feed. The U.S. government also buys up excess milk and stores it as cheese. At the end of 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture had 1.4 billion pounds of excess cheese and the stockpile has grown.

Mr. Clement quoted a study that indicated Canadian farmers could still survive by getting into the export market. If these export markets are so good, why are the big American farm businesses not taking advantage of them?

Dennis Martin, Binbrook

COMMENT

en-ca

2022-01-18T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-01-18T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://thespec.pressreader.com/article/281797107364033

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