Dairy industry needs emergency funding
Posted: 03.13.2009 at 6:00 PM
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OSWEGO COUNTY --

Dairy farming is in Barbara Brown's blood.  This dairy farmer turned county lawmaker has seen the ups and downs of the dairy industry.  She sold 100 cows and her dairy farm to her son.  Brown says due to high production and low demand, her son loses about $200 per day, and he's not alone.

Milk distributors pay dairy farmers based on a sliding scale of how much milk their cows produce.  January to February was down $5.00 per 100 pounds of milk.  That's down more than $12.00 from this time last year.  So, Brown is pushing for State officials to provide emergency funding to local farmers.  Her bill was passed by the Oswego County Legislature on Thursday.  Since January, 3 Oswego dairy farms have closed, selling their cows or signing up for assistance.  Without the aid, Brown says the effects could be widespread.

Dairy farmers are hopeful that if State officials act on the legislation that was passed in Oswego County, it will send a message to leaders in Washington D.C. to change the way dairy prices are fixed.