Dairy Industry

THE DAIRY FARMERS NEED HELP! The milk prices are at a all time low. Federal Order Class III $9.31! WOW! This just can' t happen!!!!
My husband and I started our Dairy operation over 30 years ago and we have seen many ups and downs, but I must say, this is the worst I have ever seen it. We are in business with our oldest son and his wife, so this operation is supporting two families. We struggle from day to day just to make things work for both families. Between the four of us, we all have other jobs.
Who is running the farm? WE ARE!! We milk 3 times a day just to keep things going. My son and I do the early morning and afternoon work and my husband does the third shift, which pretty much goes into the early morning hours when you do it by yourself. We have some part-time help during the day through-out the week and on week-ends. With the economy crunch we have had to cut back and all step up to do extra work. This has been really hard!

Most of you are wondering...You as a consumer the price that you pay is great! I am also a consumer..yesterday I paid .88 cents at Kroger's for a 1/2 gal of milk. I thought that was great! WHAT IS CAUSING OUR MILK PRICE TO BE SO LOW THAT WE RECEIVE WHEN WE SHIP OUR PRODUCT? It is called Supply and Demand.... The fundamental cause of this price crash is one an imbalance between supply and demand. The difference this time is that the INTERNATIONAL Dairy market is the major problem. The U.S. supply and demand is not badly and the slight imbalance would normally be solvable in the near turn.
HERE IS THE CHALLENGE...Instead, it is a U.S./world market price difference that has re suited in decreased dairy exports. LIKE OUR ECONOMY, IT IS ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE!
From the sound of things we are in for a long ride and it will take a while for the economy in a whole to turn around. Over the past five years we have come to depend on increased production of exports.
MILK PRODUCTION: Around the country it continues to grow, but at a slower rate. January, production including the top 23 dairy states, accounts for more than 92% of the total U..S. milk volume, which was only 1% above January in 2008. Also stats show that 8 of the 23 states showed a decline in production from the same month a year ago.
DEMAND: Lower milk prices at the mailbox are translating into lower consumer prices and increasing product sales in almost all categories of dairy products.
As a operator and a owner I look at this and just want to cry. We like many others in the Dairy industry have worked way too hard to see or let this happen. Ask yourself..WHERE WOULD YOU BE IF YOU DID NOT HAVE THE DAIRY PRODUCT ON YOUR TABLE? WHAT WOULD HAPPEN? DO YOU REALLY WANT THIS TO COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY? DO YOU WANT TO DEPEND ON ANOTHER COUNTRY'S WELL BEING FOR YOUR PRODUCTS?
HOW DO WE RE-BUILD FROM THIS DOWN SLIDE IN OUR ECONOMY? HOW DO WE AS A FAMILY CONTINUE TO DO WHAT WE DO EVERYDAY TO MAKE OUR FARM A SUCCESS?
The answers are not very re-assuring right now! WHAT DO WE DO?
WE ALL NEED HELP. Please remember when you purchase that dairy product, there are families out there just trying to make a go of it and bringing that product to your table.