“For too long farmers have been receiving rock-bottom prices for their product, while prices have not dropped commensurately for consumers at the stores,” Schumer said. “It just doesn’t add up and we need DOJ’s help to peel this onion and identify some of the problems plaguing our family dairy farmers and milk consumers. New York’s dairy industry has suffered tremendously in the past few years and, as I travel throughout the state, I’ve heard from constituents who are concerned that the state of competition in New York’s dairy industry may be playing a role. The Department of Justice is doing the right thing by sending the nation’s top antitrust investigator to New York to discuss this vital issues with the people whose livelihoods depend on a fair and competitive market.”

In an effort to reduce the pressure on struggling dairy farmers, Schumer has repeatedly called on the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to take a hard look at the dairy industry and identify where the problems lay. In response to Schumer’s urging, the nation’s top antitrust official will be coming to New York State to meet with dairy farmers and consumers to explore this problem.

New York dairy producers and others involved in the industry will be able to participate by submitting a statement to Schumer’s office to be forwarded to Ms. Varney, or delivering a brief 4-5 minute statement at the event.

* To attend, RSVP with your name, email address and phone number to dairymeeting_schumer@schumer.senate.gov no later than March 24th. You must RSVP if you would like to attend the session with Ms. Varney.

* If you wish to speak at the event, include in your RSVP email a brief outline of what you would like to discuss.