WASHINGTON COUNTY, MD - The 2008 Farm Bill expired this September, leaving farmers across the country without financial assistance they've depended on for years.
"We need to get people to understand that what happens here on the farm affects them every day," says David Herbst, President Elect of the Washington County Farm Bureau.
A key part of this bill set a bottom price nationally for milk that protected consumers from shortages.
"We failed. We all want a safety net, but how that comes about, everybody has a different idea," says Herbst.
But Congress passed nothing.
Dairy farms are selling a gallon of milk for about $2.10, and that price will double without a new farm bill. Local farmers say don't be fooled. The price may sound right, but it's all wrong.
"Sounds good, I mean I would love to have more money for the milk I produce, but it would produce absolute chaos in the market place," says Herbst.
If milk prices doubled, farmers would be kicked out of the exporting market.
"That's a concern because anytime you generate exports, that does create a better marketplace," says Steven Ernst, a Washington County grain and livestock farmer.
The bill also supported farms technically.
"Structures that we use for manure storage, assistance in conservation planning, streams, repairing buffers, all those kinds of things, that's where we really see the farm bill play for us on our farm," says Ernst.
Farmers say they're confident a new bill will pass by December 31.
"Hopefully it'll be something we can all live with and keep food on the table for Americans," says Herbst.
But for now, enjoy your dairy products because they're not going anywhere.
"We need to get people to understand that what happens here on the farm affects them every day," says David Herbst, President Elect of the Washington County Farm Bureau.
A key part of this bill set a bottom price nationally for milk that protected consumers from shortages.
"We failed. We all want a safety net, but how that comes about, everybody has a different idea," says Herbst.
But Congress passed nothing.
Dairy farms are selling a gallon of milk for about $2.10, and that price will double without a new farm bill. Local farmers say don't be fooled. The price may sound right, but it's all wrong.
"Sounds good, I mean I would love to have more money for the milk I produce, but it would produce absolute chaos in the market place," says Herbst.
If milk prices doubled, farmers would be kicked out of the exporting market.
"That's a concern because anytime you generate exports, that does create a better marketplace," says Steven Ernst, a Washington County grain and livestock farmer.
The bill also supported farms technically.
"Structures that we use for manure storage, assistance in conservation planning, streams, repairing buffers, all those kinds of things, that's where we really see the farm bill play for us on our farm," says Ernst.
Farmers say they're confident a new bill will pass by December 31.
"Hopefully it'll be something we can all live with and keep food on the table for Americans," says Herbst.
But for now, enjoy your dairy products because they're not going anywhere.
