HOUSE PASSES DAIRY BILL

The Connecticut House of Representatives passed legislation to provide about $10 million over the next two years under the state’s Community Investment Account (CIA) directly to dairy farmers to help them stay in business. The federal government sets milk prices and Connecticut farmers are now losing as much as a dollar a gallon based on fast rising production costs, leaving them at a severe disadvantage to out of state agribusinesses. There are currently 151 dairy farms in the state, down from 210 in 2007 and 500 in 1990. According to a University of Connecticut report, the dairy industry supports about 4,200 jobs and generates over $1 billion in sales. The CIA is funded by a $40 fee for the recording of municipal land documents and under the bill will allocate 20 percent each among three state agencies for heritage preservation, affordable housing, and municipal open space, with the remaining 40 percent committed for direct aid to dairy farmers.