Farm bill approved, with aid for diary farmers

UNDATED (WSAU) Wisconsin dairy farmers get some good news from Washington. The U.S. House approved a 121 billion dollar agriculture spending bill yesterday for the 2010 budget year. The measure includes 350 million dollars in aid for milk producers who have been hit hard by falling market prices.

$60-million dollars was set aside for the federal government to buy cheese and other dairy products, then send it to food pantries and other nutrition programs. $290-million will be direct-aid to dairy farmers.

California Senator Barbara Boxer may delay the availability of the funding by putting what's called a "hold" on the spending bill. Dairy farmers in here state have complained the money will distributed unfairly -- because California dairy farms are much larger than those in Midwestern states like Wisconsin.