BATAVIA, N.Y. - New York's senior Senator was in WNY Friday demanding protection for area dairy farmers from, what he calls, unfair trade barriers with Canada.
Senator Charles Schumer (D) stood beside producers at O-AT-KA Milk in Batavia calling on the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure that U.S. dairy exports are protected from restrictive Canadian trade rules.
Schumer explained, among other things, the Canadian government is considering taking actions that would limit the ability of Canadian companies to use ultra-filtered milk, produced by companies like O-AT-KA for cheese making.
"Western New York dairy producers could be put in grave jeopardy if these restrictive, Canadian trade barriers are allowed to go into effect," said the Senator. " That's why I am urging USTR and USDA to work to ensure that Canada is honoring its commitments to the U.S. and not moving forward with restrictive barriers that would threaten the ability of companies like O-AT-KA Mile to continue exporting dairy products."
Joining Senator Schumer to echo similar sentiments were John Gould, Chairman of O-AT-KA Mile Products Board and local dairy farmer, as well as Bill Schreiber, CEO of O-AT-KA and other O-AT-KA workers.