Washington, D.C. – This week, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) spoke on the House Floor to recognize the hardworking Minnesotans who drive the state’s dairy industry.
“Our dairy farmers are some of the hardest working folks around and they are crucial to the current and future success of our state and nation,” said Emmer. “These men and women bring jobs and revenue to Minnesota, so helping them thrive must be a priority. That is why during National Dairy Month, I was happy to see U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue put the interests of American dairy farmers first during his trip to Canada. Additionally, I was pleased to be able to honor our dairy farmers on the House Floor and celebrate their incredible contributions to the United States.”
Congressman Emmer’s comments follow Secretary Perdue’s recent visit to Canada where he sought to address recent changes to their milk classification system. This system has had a detrimental impact on the U.S. dairy sector, which relies heavily on exports. Additionally, earlier this year, Emmer, along with his colleagues, called on President Trump to uphold current agreements and oppose Canada’s new policies that are hurting American dairy exports.
Minnesota’s dairy industry includes nearly 500,000 cows and is the 2nd largest livestock sector in the state. Minnesota is also home to 3,470 dairy farms which is responsible for 9,457 jobs. Last year alone, Minnesota produced nearly 10 billion pounds of milk with Stearns County, in the Sixth Congressional District, coming in as the largest dairy-producing county in the state.
To view the full text of the letter sent to President Trump, click here.
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