OpEd: A Dairy Farmer's Dire Warning: The EATS Act is a Clear and Present Danger

By Deborah Mills, chair of the board for the National Dairy Producers Organization

I'm a hands-on dairy farmer, not just in title, but in action, every day, right in the heartland of Minnesota, in Lake City. From the first glimmers of dawn to the final sunset hues, I'm focused on my cows and the high-quality milk they produce for American tables. But now, a cynical ploy from Washington, D.C., threatens our way of life and the values we uphold in our industry.

Every five years, Congress reshuffles the deck on our nation's food and agriculture policy, known as the Farm Bill. It's a high-stakes game, with the livelihoods of rural and urban communities, conservation, and nutrition programs all on the table. But this round, the deck seems stacked against us.

Enter the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, H.R.4417/S.2019. It's the brainchild of politicians from Iowa and Kansas, masquerading as a solution but laced with deception. It’s eerily reminiscent of the disruptive Steve King amendment that's sown chaos in previous Farm Bill negotiations.

Passage of the EATS Act threatens to dismantle the foundations of our dairy industry. State laws that have stood as bulwarks, ensuring milk quality and label transparency, are now in the crosshairs.

Consider 'sell-by' date labeling laws, such as those passed at the state level. Those dates aren’t just letters and numbers on a carton - they're a lifeline of information about product freshness and safety. The EATS Act seeks to sever this lifeline, leaving consumers adrift and eroding trust in our industry.

Moreover, the Act sets its sights on our Grade "A" milk standards, the gold standards like those enforced at the state level. The peril of these standards will directly affect the quality of milk served on American tables.

Additionally, it undermines state laws that act as our frontline defense against livestock diseases, key to maintaining public health and economic stability in the dairy industry. In the EATS Act's wake, we could face an influx of diseases like Brucellosis and Bovine Tuberculosis.

Beyond the pastures, the reach of the EATS/King Amendment extends to Minnesota's heartland, endangering essential laws such as those regulating packaging materials, fire-safe cigarettes, and the safety of infant food and formula.

I urge Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, as well as House Whip Tom Emmer, and Representatives Brad Finstad and Angie Craig to hold the line against this legislative threat. It's an affront to states' rights and the hardworking folks in our agricultural communities.

Let's remember, agriculture is not merely an industry. It's the lifeblood of our rural communities, a testament to generations of hard-earned wisdom. Our path forward is clear: safeguard our farming heritage, support our fellow farmers, and stand by states' rights. It's a future worth toiling for.

Deborah Mills is the Chair of the Board at the National Dairy Producers Organization and a Board Director at the Organization for Competitive Markets who resides in Lake City, Minnesota.