STATE DAIRY FARMERS CRY FOUL OVER PLANS TO REDUCE MILK BENEFITS

Dairy groups in Pennsylvania are upset about a federal plan to reduce milk benefits in a federal nutrition program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it plans to reduce the amount of milk covered in its WIC programs down to 71 percent of the daily recommended amount.  Under the proposed rules, mothers would receive four gallons a month, down from nearly six gallons. Children would also get up to a gallon less than they now receive now. The USDA officials say they’ll proceed one way or another on the proposals after reviewing more than 15-thousand public comments, which they finished accepting last month.