The IDFA is happy to point out a Cato Institute paper that calls for dairy policy changes. The paper was released just over a week ago and will be quoted a lot I’m sure as we lead up to a new farm bill.

The Cato Institute is the first public policy organization, or “think tank,” to tackle dairy policy in the lead-up to the 2007 Farm Bill. The institute’s briefing paper, titled “Milking the Customers: The High Cost of U.S. Dairy Policies,” highlights weaknesses in current U.S. dairy policies and demonstrates how existing programs have a minimal and conflicting role in supporting prices for farmers. “The experts at the Cato Institute have concluded that today’s dairy policies will not help dairy producers and processors meet the challenges of tomorrow,” said Chip Kunde, IDFA senior vice president. “This call should inspire us to initiate a smooth transition away from current outdated and conflicting policies to one, national policy that provides critical support to all producers but allows free market opportunities to flourish.”

You can find the paper here.