Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON – Congressman Dennis Cardoza met with newly appointed USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Tuesday to discuss concerns faced by Central Valley dairy operators. Also present was Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson, and House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Chairman David Scott.

“I am pleased we had the opportunity to meet with the incoming agriculture secretary and share our concerns,” said Congressman Cardoza. “This was a significant first meeting. Given the magnitude of agriculture and dairy operations in the Central Valley, I wanted to ensure that Secretary Vilsack was well aware of the difficulties dairymen and women are currently facing in California.”

Congressman Cardoza added that dairy operators in recent months have been facing almost crippling prices with shrinking demands for dairy products and increasing production costs.

“Secretary Vilsack has assured us he will use his administrative authority to do all he can to alleviate the difficulties being faced by agricultural operators in the Central Valley and across the country,” said Congressman Cardoza.

Secretary Vilsack specifically committed to using the Dairy Export Incentive Program to encourage the export of U.S. dairy products overseas.

“I applaud this commitment and can tell by his questions, attention to detail and keen understanding of the suffering that is taking place in the California dairy industry, that we have a friend in the USDA,” said Congressman Cardoza.