Wisconsin Farm Bureau President Jim Holte issued the following statement regarding the numerous dairy farmers who have been dropped by their processors.
“Recently dairy farmers across Wisconsin have been given a notice that they will no longer have a processor for their milk supply. This is concerning and something our organization does not take lightly. The agricultural community needs to work together to find a solution so farmers don’t have to make quick decisions that will have long-term impacts.
Wisconsin Farm Bureau encourages dairy farmers dropped by their milk processor to contact the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Farm Center so it can help with coordination of a new processor.
The center is tracking the number of farmers impacted and is assisting in any way it can. Contact the DATCP Farm Center by calling 800.942.2474.
Until a long-term solution can be determined, Wisconsin Farm Bureau asks that other dairy processors take on the milk from these farms.
Wisconsin Farm Bureau also encourages farmers to reach out to their Congressional Representative and U.S. Senators to explain the need to maintain export markets.
Global demand for dairy and other agricultural product is crucial to the success of the industry and our lawmakers need to be reminded of that.
There are many farm families across Wisconsin right now fearing that their livelihoods are going to be lost. These families need our help. Let’s not delay in finding a solution.”
Dawn Weishaar says
The supply and demand problem is something that producers and coops have tried to address….. only to have greedy lawyers file a class action lawsuit calling it price fixing. The government did the same thing in the 80’s, so I really don’t understand why the suit was settled?https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2013/12/11/with-consumer-class-actions-lawyers-are-mostly-paid-to-do-nothing/#7360152d1472
barbie says
I am a dairy farmer and I have a small farm, I sat down with my banker today and he basically told me the writing is on the wall especially for small farmers… what has caused this problem??? Greed?? technology?? the combination?? We have been introduced to many “tools in our toolbox” to help us farm more efficient such as BGH and sexed semen, tools to help our farms but as with most technology, these tools have been abused, not used for the correct purpose and now we all suffer with a huge supply and demand problem. It’s a real problem.