Dear Editor,
I am one of the partners in Faihopity Farms in Columbia County in Pennsylvania. Our dairy farm is operated solely as true family farm.
We were shocked two days ago when we received our advance check for the first 15 days of April’s production. The amount was $12.78/cwt.
These continuously low milk prices are totally unacceptable and can no longer be tolerated. As everyone knows, 2009 was a disgraceful year for dairy farmers. The price that we received for our milk last year was hundreds of thousands of dollars below the cost of producing milk. We and many other dairy farmers cannot continue with these prices.
Many of us traveled to Washington, D.C. on April 13 with the Progressive Agriculture Organization (Pro-Ag) in an attempt to obtain some immediate help for all dairy farmers. For most part, the reception was good.
We appreciate the efforts that Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) is putting forth for the dairy farmers. However, in most parts, our elected officials just don’t get it.
All of us at Faihopity Farms strongly support the efforts of Pro Ag and The National Family Farm Coalition as they work feverishly to correct the financial instability on our dairy farms.
Congress can and must adjust the support price on milk manufactured products to a level of at least $17/cwt. to $18/cwt. If this isn’t done, then a floor price of at least $18/cwt. must be placed under all manufactured milk products.
The only real, sensible and realistic solution to the dairy farms’ woes is the Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2009 (S -1645). We are totally against any form of insurance programs to be imposed on dairy farmers.
It has been reported that some large dairy companies made record profits last year. It’s time dairy farmers receive a fair stable price for our milk -- and an insurance program is not the answer. I urge everyone to get behind the efforts of Pro Ag and The National Family Farm Coalition.
Let’s save our remaining dairy farms before it is too late.
Sincerely,
Linda Broyan
