Congress Playing Trix?

    The DiNitto farm in Marcy is entering its fourth generation of farmers. The family- owned farm first began milking cows in the 1940's around the same time the United States Congress passed the first Farm Bill. The original intent was to help farmers raise prices and incomes. But if the current congress doesn't pass or extend the current farm bill, you could see the price of milk skyrocket.

                Terri DiNitto of DiNitto Farms says, "Your dairy products, especially you fluid milk could rise to between 6 and 8 dollars a gallon. We don't want that for the consumer, we want affordable dairy products for them. It could also screw up your school lunch programs and any of your other nutritional programs that the government has."

            The Farm Bill sets prices and allows farmers to plan for the future, but if nothing is done quickly many farmers will be left in the dark.

            DiNitto added, "It's serious, anything that has to do with you bottom line is a serious matter. Our margins right now are not great, we have high fuel costs, our feed costs are going to be astronomical this year, the next planning season because of the drought."

            If congress doesn't act not only could the price of milk go up but the price of many dairy products could go up. DiNitto says, "Everything would rise and I just don't think anybody wants that to happen."