Food Engineering
Dairy Industry

Study says Americans opposed to government regulation of milk prices, production

Four out of five believe production levels should be set by farmers

November 29, 2012

Study says Americans opposed to government regulation of milk prices, production

A study conducted by Harris International on behalf of the International Dairy Foods Association found that 81 percent of Americans believe that individual farmers should be allowed to decide for themselves how much milk to produce rather than have limits set by government policy. The study also found that 74 percent believe milk prices should be based on what consumers are willing to pay rather than federal policy. While 52 percent support financial assistance through government-subsidized margin insurance against catastrophic losses, only eight percent support helping milk producers by limiting production to keep prices artificially high. Current proposals in the Farm Bill would require farmers to limit production in exchange for access to margin insurance.

Shane O’Halloran joined Food Engineering in November of 2012 as Digital/Online Editor. He graduated from Oberlin College in 2010, and worked as a copy editor and contributor to BleacherReport.com and ShesGameSports.com. He has also written feature articles on a freelance basis for publications in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. His areas of expertise include social media campaigns and website management. Shane produces daily news updates for www.foodengineeringmag.com and Food Engineering’s social media sites. In addition, Shane writes news articles for FE’s TechFlash e-newsletter and Food Engineering’s People and Industry section.