A panel of political representatives and aides sat for over three hours at a rally Friday in Mount Markham Middle School gym as over 200 upstate New York dairy farmers pleaded for action on a range of issues crippling their industry.
One after another dairy farmers and others involved in the industry took a microphone to berate county, state and federal representatives from throughout the region.
Some were brought to tears describing their inability to make a living, a few simply screamed in frustration and others demanded answers. But the dire situation facing the men and women speaking was painfully clear.
“We are in a disaster,” declared Ken Dibbell, of Chenango County.
Everything from free trade to transportation costs were mentioned as contributing factors, though a discrepancy between production costs and pricing was at the forefront.
The cost per hundredweight of milk is at $12 based on current pricing formula, according to rally organizers from Progressive Agriculture Organization.
A pricing floor that could maintain the farmers is at least $18, Arden Tewksbury, from Pennsylvania and manager of Pro-Ag. Moreover, Pro-Ag is advocating for federal legislation that would raise the price to $22.46, he added.
Upwards of 15 in attendance provided personal accounts of a daily struggle to provide for their families.
“The people who feed the nation can’t feed themselves,” Gretchen Maine, a dairy farmer from Waterville, “what’s wrong this picture.”
Tewksbury presented the bill backed by Pro-Ag, which Pennsylvania’s Senators Arlen Specter and Bill Casey introduced, as “the answer.” He urged the dairy farmers to get behind the bill, which raised and better regulated milk prices in the future.
The state commissioner of Agriculture, Patrick Hooker, said there’s no way the legislation will pass before 2010, however. And “it’s going to be a long shot,” he added.
Hooker proposed an amendment to appropriations that called for $350 million for the dairy industry as “the only game in town.” Having already passed the Senate, it still needs to pass Congress, he explained; and the funds could provide more immediate relief by the fall.
The time frames for both solutions seemed in contrast from farmers need for help, with many emotionally explaining they have either already abandon businesses or are on the brink.
“I don’t think they get the message yet,” Tewksbury said, referring politicians unaware of the uncharacteristic display of emotions from prideful farmers. They don’t have until 2010. They have the next couple of months to decide if they can stay in business, he said.
Much of the information was directed to sway aides representing both U.S. Senators, several local U.S. Congressman and Governor David Paterson.
Many that asked questions chastised politicians in general, as well as those in attendance, for the lack of progress the government has made.
Basically the same issues were discussed at a rally in March at Federated Church of West Winfield.
After Hooker finished explaining his views on how dairy farming can prosper in New York state, an irate man (who refused to give his name) threw his arms up and approached the front of the gym.
“What’s Albany going to do about it,” he screamed, before storming out the back doors after a brief exchange with Hooker.
WEST WINFIELD —
