A Mountain of Butter, to Sell or Donate?

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- Senators told the government Monday that it's threatening the dairy industry by planning to go to market with a mountain of butter rather than give it away to organizations that feed the hungry.

The Agriculture Department's dilemma is to deal with 11 million pounds of butter amassed over the years under the government's price-support programs. Led by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., 16 senators sent Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman a letter urging against a sale.

"The timing of your department's decision to release these stocks of butter could have an adverse impact on prices received by dairy farmers, and we believe there is a better option," they wrote.

Already depressed dairy prices could be driven even lower, the letter said.

more...............

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-butter-sale,0,299296.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[PsychoDad]

1. They should just give it away.

To food banks, low income folks, etc. Maybe along with some bread.


But then again, that would just be more socialism...

[philosophie_en_rose]

2. How does it hurt anyone to give it away?

Butter costs at least four times as much as margarine. Poor people cannot afford it. Nonprofits that feed the hungry cannot afford it. They are never going to contribute to the butter industry's profits.

Giving that butter away to shelters and foodbanks is a better alternative than selling it or wasting it.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. why don't these God fearing Christains

do the Christain thing and give te butter to the poor


oh yeah, I forgot

they lie about that too


they are not Christains

[Scaramouche]

6. I say we give it to the French...

So we all can have a Last Tango in Paris moment...

:evilgrin :evilgrin :evilgrin

[jenm]

8. 'twas the American that got smeared, actually

oh no wait, I was thinking about when she cut her nails. Tsk.

[eyesroll]

4. "Amassed over the years"?

How long does butter keep?

[Pale_Rider]

5. Old butter?

Butter in a fridge last about a month, and a year in a freezer. I remember some time ago that the US sold India a bunch of butter that went over like a lead balloon. Apparently Indians prefer ghee, clarified butter, which has a longer shelf life that regular butter. Not sure what the government can do to extend shelf-life.

[DeathvadeR]

7. You down with MSG?

Ya you know me.