FARMERS*MILK

[LBrown59]

From An E-Mail I got Today

You wonder why milk is so high? Well, one reason is the loss of production
from California, our nation's highest producer of milk, because of the loss
of thousands of head of cattle in the recent heat wave the area had. And
in case you wonder why area farmers are saying they can't afford to milk
more head of cattle, to lower prices? Milk is selling from the farm at the
average of $11.58/cwt (about 12 gallons) to the dairy plants. That price is
$5.00 less per cwt than was paid when I was a kid working on our dairy
farm out near Waterford. And that was 30 years ago. At that kind of return for expenses, I'm suprised the farmers can even afford to feed their cows.
The added prices for every item necessary to farm has risen through the
same 30 years at the same rate they did for your family, diesel fuel for
tractors is nearly as expensive as on-road use fuel, the only difference is
off-road fuel isn't taxed for road use. When oil goes up, the cost of other
supplies rises as well, fertilizer is made with some amount of oil. Machinery cost went through the roof as well, the same horsepower
tractors we used are many thousands more than back then. And given
that cheap labor, like we got by hiring high school kids, has flat gone
away. That's why you see Witten, and other farmers working labor
intensive crops bringing in Mexicans, they can't afford the wages our
own people would demand.

 

[monkeymonk]

That's why you see Witten, and other farmers working labor
intensive crops bringing in Mexicans, they can't afford the wages our
own people would demand.

I don't know if many will agree with me here but

The mexican's or other foreign workers work Hard and Don't complain! I personally haven't hired any BUT i know plenty of folks who do and they aren't any cheaper! the folks i know pay $10-16 an hour depending on the job and skill. Yes some are treated bad and paid crap.

My one friend owns a Very hoit-tee toit-tee building company on the east coast 8-16,000+ sq ft custom and spec homes in only the finest areas. His roofers are americans,his siders are russian,his brick layers are portiguese, dry wallers are south american, landscapers are Mexican, so on so on...they are all legal paid very well and the work they all do is the finest. 15years ago before the bigger shift in workers,production was much slower for him.

Try what you call "hiring a school kid" nowadays...My hands hurt,its hot out, im tired, smoke break smoke break smoke break, my back hurts....No show or late, hung over tired slow.... now i have dealt with that! Thats not the way i work and i can't stand it. Maybe folks are becoming to spoiled? video games? lack of drive? coat-tale living? wish i knew... most likely a little of each.

Not to sure about the "Our Own" comment with oh so many Others out there?

I demand good quality work with no complaints! Hope some don't take this as political....just my observation

 

[Gatorboy]

Ok, you copied and pasted an email you received. Do you have an opinion on the email or are you looking to sit back and watch reactions to it?

 

[RichZ]

It's really amazing that milk prices at the supermarket keep going up, but the prices that dairy farmers get go down. Many small dairy farms are going under, and if this keeps up, this country's main source of milk will be only from corporate farms, that often use hormones and other nasty stuff to increase milk production. It's truly a shame that the government isn't looking into this situation.

This is yet another reason why many young people are not going into farming. My wife and I have a goat dairy, and right now, demand is greater than supply, for goat milk, so we still get a decent price for our milk, but our cow dairy friends are really hurting. I can't stand to see a single farm go under, but unfortunately, lots of small dairies are going under.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Production Agriculture, be it dairy, cash grain, or any other form, is no different than any other business these days. The efficient, modern, enterprising businessmen survive and prosper. Those who don't "go with the flow" and keep up with times slowly ride off into the sunset. The biggest and the best use their "insider" knowledge and play futures markets, operate with someone elses money, and take advantage of every government grant and/or assistance. The ones who are disappearing aren't playing the game to it's fullest.

It's a different world now than when "grampa" plowed with mules, sold sweetcorn at a roadside stand, and fed his family from what he grew. We have global competition like never before. We can't dictate the rules anymore. We (U.S.) aren't "the only game in town" anymore.

Like it or not, the small family farm isn't what it once was. At best, it's just a lifestyle now, where it was once a thriving business. Corporate farming or BTO's (BIG TIME OPERATORS) , like it or not, is "the way it is". And some of those guys are THRIVING nowdays.

 

[Highbeam]

My family drinks a gallon or so a week of milk plus the associated dairy products like cheese and ice cream. If it comes from a cow, it must be good. It is relatively cheap . Yes, it is a consumer good and more money than it was before, but it is still dang cheap. To replace my demand I would need to buy a cow.

 

[RichZ]

Farmingwithjunk, what you say is definitely true, but this new age of farming is not a good thing. Happily many people do want to know what is in their food, and prefer to buy from small family farms, so that they may have some degree of feeling secure in the wholesomeness of their food. So, I am hoping that more and more people want control of what they're consuming, and that there will be a greater demand for foods grown on small family farms.

 

[Egon]

buy from small family farms

Problem here is trying to meet the myriad of Govt. regulations controlling the sale of many products.

 

[Adron]

...And most of the new regulations are generated by lobbbyists for the BTO's. (i.e. NAIS)

 

[RG_Upton]

We are able to buy straight from the bulk tank at a local organic dairy. I feel good knowing that every cent that we pay goes straight to the farmer's family.

I also know that the vast majority of their sales is to a co-op, but I don't know what they get for it there.

Russ