Milk Prices Could Rise | Video

Jessica Roose | 12/28/2012

The year is almost over and Congress has yet to pass a Farm Bill. If you think that only matters to farmers, a trip to the grocery store in the near future might open your eyes. It`s something most people always have on their shopping list, but soon it could become a little more expensive. Right now the price of milk is about four dollars a gallon, but some say that could go up to about nine.

That`s because Congress still needs to pass a Farm Bill. If they don`t pass one by the end of the year, the country`s farm policy will go back to one that was in place in 1949, which could result in higher prices.

"It would definitely affect me because I buy milk pretty much every time I go to the grocery store. I have a family and we drink a lot of milk. So yeah, it would definitely affect me," said shopper Sarah Horner.

If you think things would be better for milk producers, think again.

"It would be great. We could pay a lot of bills. But long term, it`s not realistic for us because everything else is going to follow and that`s going to hurt us," said dairy producer Nathan Boehm.

Representative-Elect Kevin Cramer says the price of milk has become a symbol of one of many things that could happen if a bill isn`t passed.

"I mean there are much more serious consequences to not passing a Farm Bill. Not the least of which is the uncertainty that is created for not just farmers but more importantly for their lenders."

He says if lenders don`t know what the laws will be, it will make it hard for farmers to get their loans and move forward with production.

Cramer adds that while it doesn`t seem likely, he is hopeful to have a bill passed before he gets sworn in next week. If one isn`t, he doesn`t think the price of milk will jump drastically overnight and says he will make it a priority when he gets there.

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