Dairymen lay it on the line.
Submitted by Dick Wanner on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 8:29pm.
Dairy producers, consumers and diary support groups gathered for a planning/gripe session in Delhi, New York, about a week ago. They talked about the current dismal state of the industry, and very few could recall rougher times. The meeting organizers handed questionnaires to the dairy producers in the crowd to gauge their mood.
The producers were asked such questions as whether or not they're behind on their accounts payable, do they think the dairy industry is more like Main Street or Wall Street, and would they support Tom Vilsack if he ordered an immediate raise in the floor price for Class II and III milk. (Duh!)
And, of course, the questionnaire asked the farmers if they could survive in dairying if the milk price continued to wallow in the valley of a mountain of debt. Could they make money?
Of the 100 people who answered the question, 99 said, "No." What's surprising is that somebody did not reply in the negative.
Either that one guy wasn't paying attention, or he knows something the rest of us don't.
Wouldn't you love to talk to him?
Speaking of tough times in the dairy industry, Lancaster Farming special sections editor Charlene Shupp Espenshade, herself a dairy farmer, unburdened herself of a few thoughts and had some meaty suggestions for the policy wonks in Washington. Her comments are on the editorial page of the current issue.
Having fun at the Young Male Cub Association. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR_vdikpKZA
