It’s past time to bring whole milk back into schools and time to demand that legislators pass Assemblyman Chris Tague’s bill, A.9990.
That was the message speaker after speaker shared at a rally Monday at Ridgedale Farms in Canajoharie and Sharon Springs.
Joined by about 100 fellow lawmakers, farmers, Farm Bureau representatives and local FFA members, Assemblyman Tague unveiled his legislation to return New York State-produced whole and two percent milk to school cafeterias.
It was about 10 years ago, speakers said, that whole and two percent milk were removed from schools because of concerns over fat.
Since then, Assemblyman Tague said, research has made it clear the fat in milk is in fact heathier and kids who drink whole and two percent milk are at lower risk for everything from heart disease to diabetes.
Pennsylvania has just allowed all milk back in schools, he said; “There’s no reason why New York State can’t do it too.”
State Senator George Borrello, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and a Republican from Cattaraugus County, called the federal ban “misguided” and said it’s only resulted in kids filling up on less healthy options.
“Meanwhile, decreased consumption has only led to the economic struggles of the dairy industry. It’s time to address this by passing this important legislation.”
Dairy farmer Ray Dykeman, owner of Dykeman and Sons in Fultonville and a director for the Northeast Dairy Producers Association, also spoke to the legislation’s economic impact.
“In a time when farmers are facing rising costs, the economic benefits to this are huge,” he said.
That’s because whole and two percent milk taste better; when it’s available, people consume more of it.
Farm Bureau’s Todd Heyn thanked Assemblyman Tague for pushing the legislation and for raising the issue’s awareness on both the state and national level.
It’s something Farm Bureau’s been advocating for a long time, he said.
Spread the word, Assemblyman Tague, ranking member of the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee, urged the crowd of nearly 100 from across the state; call, text, or email your elected officials—and Governor Kathy Hochul—and tell them it’s past time.
“No food, no farms,” he said.