ADDISON, VT — On Wednesday, August 12^th, at 12:30 PM EDT, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety, will join OrganicValley, dairy industry leaders, and organic dairy farmers for a roundtable discussion at Harrison’s Homegrown Organic Dairy Farm in Addison. At the event, Senator Welch will discuss the Farm Bill and highlight his bipartisan efforts to support Vermont’s dairy farmers and strengthen the state’s organic industry. 

This week, Senator Welch filed amendments to Republicans’ partisan Farm Bill that would provide free access to the Dairy Margin Coverage Program (DMC) for eligible producers, improve data collection for organic dairy farmers, and help eliminate barriers for farmers entering the organics market. Earlier this year, Senator Welch led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to release cost-share funding and reduce financial burdens for organic farmers. Senate Republicans’ Farm Bill failed to advance in Committee. 

The Senator has championed legislation to expand federal support for organic dairy farmers and ensure fair prices for family dairies, including the bipartisan Domestic Organic Investment Actand theOrganic Dairy Assistance, Investment, and Reporting Yields Act(O DAIRY) Act. The Senator also led 14 colleagues in introducing the Opportunities in Organic Actto reduce barriers to organic farming in Vermont. Senator Welch’s bipartisan bill, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, was signed into law earlier this year. 

LOGISTICS: 

WHO:                         U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.); Representatives from Organic Valley; Vermont dairy industry leaders; Organic Dairy Farmers 

WHEN:                      Wednesday, August 12^th, at 12:30 PM EDT 

WHERE:                   Harrison’s Homegrown Organic Dairy Farm: 8180 VT Route 22A, Addison, VT 05491        

RSVP:                        Media are asked to RSVP to Elisabeth_St.Onge@welch.senate.gov.