This commentary is by Bob Gray, a resident of Farragut, Tennessee, who’s an agriculture policy adviser.
As the 117th Congress finished its work, Vermont farmers were losing one of the most significant agriculture leaders they have had the good fortune of representing them in a long time.
After serving in the U.S. Senate for 48 years, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy is embarking upon a well-earned retirement.
It is very important for Vermonters to fully appreciate the numerous accomplishments Sen. Leahy tallied, not only for our dairy farmers, but for all the Green Mountain State’s agricultural producers and related businesses.
I was fortunate enough to have had the privilege of working closely with Sen. Leahy and his staff over many years in representing Vermont’s dairy cooperatives, as well as being a member of former Congressman Jim Jeffords’ staff.
The list is long in summarizing the many achievements the senator was able to accomplish through his leadership and effective legislative skills. Here are some of the highlights.
• In the early going in the late 1970s and early ’80s, he was front and center in ensuring that there were adequate price supports for our dairy products. At the same time, he was heavily involved in efforts to vastly improve soil and water conservation efforts through the Conservation Reserve Program.
• In the 1992 Farm Bill, he singlehandedly established the Organic Foods Production Act that for the very first time set up a federal program to allow farmers and businesses to become certified organic. It now is a multibillion-dollar industry.
• He was presented with a huge challenge in the 1998 Farm Bill. The Northeast Dairy Compact needed to be ratified by Congress. At the same time, an effort was being made by the upper Midwest to lower the Class I differentials on our Northeast dairy producers due to a legislative change in a previous farm bill. Sen. Leahy successfully got the compact ratified and fought off the reduction in the Class I differentials.
• In the 2002 Farm Bill, he crafted the MILC program, which had close similarities to the dairy compact. It helped provide income to producers when milk prices were in decline and was targeted primarily to small and medium-size farmers. This program remained in place until 2014 when Sen. Leahy helped in devising the Dairy Margin Coverage Risk Management Program.
I could go on, but you get the picture. He clearly strengthened our agriculture in Vermont over the years, which benefited the economy, the environment and the tourist industry. His loss will be clearly felt.
I wish Sen. Leahy and his wonderful wife, Marcelle, the very best in their retirement.
