It’s beginning to sound like outraged consumers are the dairy industry’s best hope.
That’s the message local farmers took home from a Pro-Ag rally Friday in Herkimer County.
About 200 dairy- and agribusinessmen attended the event, which focused on federal legislation that would boost prices, specifically the Specter-Casey Bill.
Debbie Stanton of Cobleskill and Ellen Bogardus of Schoharie were among the local farmers on hand and both said afterward the frustration level is only growing.
“I don’t think our elected officials or even the farm agencies that are supposed to be helping us realize how desperate things are,” said Ms. Stanton.
“Much longer and things are going to be too late.”
Speakers Friday included State Senator Jim Seward, who, with Assemblyman Pete Lopez, first suggested tapping in the state’s share of federal stimulus money.
According to Ms. Stanton and Ms. Bogardus, however, State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker told the crowd that money’s already been spent on things like Medicare and education.
“It wasn’t too encouraging,” Ms. Bogardus said. “And then there were farmers talking about getting food stamps…”
Ms. Stanton said they’re convinced the only thing that will convince legislators how dire things are is an outcry from consumers.
“They as much told us, ‘Flood the Governor’s office. Flood the Assembly,’” she said, “and not just our representatives, but everyone.”
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Ms. Stanton and Ms. Bogardus both pointed out the loss of even a single farm will have a ripple effect on everything from property and school taxes to the local businesses they support.
But just as important, they said, consumers need to realize how much of their
”dairy” products are actually imported Milk Protein Concentrates (MPCs) and not subject to FDA inspection.
Even Senator Kirsten Gillibrand touched on this when she visited Schoharie.
“I don’t want to buy my milk from China,” Senator Gillibrand said. “I want to buy my milk from upstate New York.”
Historically, said Assemblyman Lopez, organizations like Farm Bureau have shied away from alliances with consumer groups, concerned it will only lead to more regulations.
“But it’s time to move away from that,” he said. “There’s a growing awareness of the importance of agriculture and what it means to our quality of life.
“People want to know where their food is coming from and we need to bring consumers into this discussion if our farms are going to survive.”
Assemblyman Lopez said he wants to see things like online petitions and tractor rallies, adding that even with the state’s budget crisis, he still wants to find some way to provide emergency funding for dairy farmers.
The New York Farm Bureau has joined with 12 other Farm Bureaus from across the Northeast in urging the USDA to revamp the way dairy farmers are paid to reflect regional differences.
Signing on to the letter were the presidents of the New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, New Hampshire, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia Farm Bureaus.
The USDA has already announced increases in the support price for August-October milk, but the net on-farm increase from that is expected to be less than 50 cents per hundred pounds.
Cost of production is averaging $17 per hu