President Obama has signed legislation providing $350 million to aid the nation's dairy farmers.  The legislation leaves it up to the Secretary of Agriculture to determine the distribution formula, but Maine Dairy Industry Association President Julie-Marie Bickford says Maine dairy farmers will get between about $1 million and $1.3 million.  Bickford says it's great news, but won't solve the industry's long-term problems.
 
"The amount that Maine farmers need in order to just break even is pretty significant right now, the pricing system is failing them so badly," Bickford told Capitol News Service.  "But this money from Washington will help, because the number one thing farmers need right now is cash."
 
Bickford says Maine dairy farmers continue to get paid less for their milk than it costs them to produce it.  She says the depression-era pricing system isn't working and fundamental reforms by Congress are needed to assure that farmers can stay in business and make a living.