We know our opposition is well-financed. We know our opposition is strong, Rep. John Sweeney, R-Halfmoon, said. The six states now in the Northeast Dairy Compact are Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine. In addition to New York, the bill would add Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. Dairy compacts guarantee farmers wholesale prices for their milk above federal minimums.
Supporters say they are needed to protect farmers from broad fluctuations in milk prices.
But detractors say they are unfair to other dairy farmers and hurt consumers by raising the price of milk. With 7,900 dairy farms, New York is the third-largest dairy producing state in the nation, behind California and Wisconsin. But New York's share has been shrinking. Our farmers are being paid less for their milk, state Farm Bureau spokeswoman Muriel Church said. Compact opponents led by Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Tex., sent a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert outlining their concerns.