LET 'Gut' the milk marketing system? Then what?

I was appalled to hear Norm Coleman's statement in the Farmfest debate that he would "gut'' the federal milk marketing system if elected.

Making such a rhetorical comment indicates that he is ill-formed about the problems facing Minnesota dairy farmers.

While the federal milk marketing system is not perfect, it does serve an important function of accounting for milk shipped to and from all regions of the country. It also ensures that all farmers, regardless of size and location, have access to markets.

If Coleman was to gut the federal milk marketing system, what does he propose to replace it with? A system of mandatory contracting? Total deregulation of the dairy marketing system jeopardizes dairy farmers, who produce a perishable product that must be sold each day.

I am tired of being told what is best for farmers from people who have no knowledge of rural issues. I have visited Paul Wellstone's office with his staff many times. He listens to us and asks what we want.

-- Eunice Biel, Harmony, Minn.