Program will aid dairy farmers
One-time payment for milk producersBy COLIN KYLER ckyler@timesobserver.com
A new federal program may provide economic relief to struggling dairy farmers.
Clarion/Venango/Forest/Warren United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency County Executive Director Tom Tanner said the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment Program provides a one-time payment.
The 2010 Agricultural Appropriations Act provides $290 million for direct payments to those who produced milk between February and July, Tanner said.
FSA Program Technician Becky Vucic said farmers will receive about $0.32 per hundredweight produced up to six million pounds.
Prices for dairy products have been low due to the economy, Vucic said, with some receiving the same prices they got in the 1970s.
"It's not showing up at the grocery store, but they're struggling to make ends meet," she said.
Producers who were enrolled in an FSA program for dairy farmers automatically got their payments, Vucic said, with about 80 percent of producers participating.
Many of those who choose not to participate are Amish, Vucic said.
Those without production records at the FSA county office must submit production for the months of February through July, Tanner said, in order to receive their payments.
The application period began Dec. 17, Tanner said, and ends Jan. 19.
Pot O' Gold Dairy Specialties Inc. of Bear Lake Owner Becky Messinger said farmers are in a terrible situation.
The country is also losing dairy farmers quickly, Messinger said, and will soon have to depend on overseas production.
Prices are too low for the cost of production, Messinger said, with farmers unable to survive.
Fortunately, Messinger said prices are edging back up.
Messinger said her business bottles its own product, which allows it to control some of the prices.
Since beginning bottling, Messinger said her business has seen a big difference especially when prices are low.
The dairy industry needs stabilization, Messinger said, and cannot keep going without realizing a profit.
"They expect us to stay in business when we can't pay our bills," she said. "Something has to be done, but I don't have the answers."
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Backwoods
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12-28-09 6:12 PM
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Sami - if you get a cow you will be contributing to global warming. According to some reports cows are the number one contributor. Myself I find this hard to believe.
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samibigelow
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12-28-09 10:41 AM
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Or Cooperatives that include the processors. It is a known fact that the middle man makes the most, it sure isn't the farmer. The government should not let these farmers lose their farms and their livelihood. I would really hate to have milk come from China. I am sure they don't have the inspections we have here. I may have to get a cow if that happens, I wonder if my neighbors would mind.
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ErnestPayne
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12-26-09 9:50 AM
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Well you could try the marketing boards that are in use in Canada.
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