Kind Backs MILK Plan

US Representative Ron Kind of La Crosse is co-sponsoring a bi-partisan measure – with the acronym of MILK – that would funnel dairy farmers’ excess milk into needy families’ refrigerators. The Farmer’s Milk in Low-Income Kitchens Act would expand the US Department of Agriculture’s Milk Donation Reimbursement Program. That program requires dairy farmers to seek out food banks and apply for reimbursements to cover expenses. The bill would authorize the USDA to pair dairy producers who have excess milk with food banks that can distribute it. It would also authorize an additional $4-million dollars a year for the program. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains and cut demand for dairy products. As a result, some farms have been forced to dispose of millions of gallons of milk a day because there is nowhere for it to go.