The leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees continue to work behind closed doors this week as the deadline for their recommendations to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, the "supercommittee," comes closer. IDFA has learned that the ag leaders plan to include a package of dairy proposals similar to Representative Collin Peterson's (D-MN) Dairy Security Act, H.R. 3062, as part of their recommendations.

IDFA remains strongly opposed to the Dairy Market Stabilization Program included in the bill and is working to have the program removed from full consideration.

The 12-member supercommittee has until November 23 to send a $1.2 billion deficit reduction package to Congress. Once the supercommittee's proposal has been introduced, it cannot be amended and will have to be voted on as a complete package. The vote is expected to come sometime before Christmas.

"This process is not the way the writing of the farm bill should be handled," said Jerry Slominski, IDFA senior vice president for legislative affairs and economic policy. "The dairy industry is far from consensus on these policies and not a single hearing has been held to consider the impacts in the marketplace."

IDFA urges members to contact their members of Congress asking them to keep dairy issues out of any supercommittee proposal. Contact Ashley Burch, IDFA assistant director of political programs, at aburch@idfa.org for assistance and more information.