Here is an article, on National Public Radio of all the unlikely spots, that details some of what has been going on in the dairy industry over the past couple of decades. A good read!
HT Cousin Scott
Here is another interesting article on anti-trust efforts that may be undertaken.
From the article:
ReplyDelete"Prior to that, it was kind of a beautiful market in our area, because you could pick up the phone today and go somewhere else tomorrow. 'There was still a lot of competition,' Harrison says. 'Well, as DFA came in and began tying up all those supply contracts, those things disappeared. The net effect was that you had no other option. If you were dissatisfied or wanted to make a change, you had no option to go sell your milk.'"
How did DFA "tie up all the supply contracts"? If they bought, somebody had to sell [out].
June, They tie up places to sell milk by making exclusive deals. For example the deal with Dean Foods...they sell cheaper to them, by delivering all the milk. When they control the only place to sell milk they soon can deliver all the milk. We had a great cooperative, which truly represented farmer interests. They made it impossible for them to sell milk to any but plants they had tied up in contracts. The cooperative is gone. So are options for selling milk
ReplyDeleteThank you 3C! I was listening to that story just as I arrived at work yesterday and did not get to finish it. I was thinking of your family while listening.
ReplyDeleteDon't you just wish that you could go on strike? I mean every dairy farmer in the country!
ReplyDeleteThis country should be ashamed of itself - the way farmers are being treat is just plain sinful. Big milk has been the root of all evil from the very beginning of these darn factories.
ReplyDeleteMaine is losing dairy farmers as quick as other states. You can't keep farming when your losing money on each gallon of milk you produce. Especially when the price of feed keeps going up.
I wish I had the solution....
Farmers have always gotten the *bad* end of the stick. I remember my mother saying she felt heartsick when she was a girl and farmers would pour out their milk on the ground rather than sell it at a loss.
ReplyDeleteI wish there was a solution! I wish it were as easy as striking. I wish everyone would band together, but would it work.
ReplyDeleteMy heart and mind are with you in this terrible fight to save the family farm and the family dairy. Just think we can have powdered milk from China, (just add water) on the shelves...yummmm good. BARF
It makes me so angry....to see what is happening to the family farm. I really don't think the general public even comes close to understanding anything that the farmers go throug--i.e. expenses, work ect..
ReplyDeleteFC, glad it gave you a chance to read the end. I had heard that the broadcast was on, but it was nice to get the written version...guess I read faster than I listen. It is nice that NPR covered this
ReplyDeleteLisa, we have an old newspaper that shows Gordie's dad and the boss's dad during a big milk strike...back I think in the thirties....
Deb, it is discouraging to read that the situation was investigated, egregious anti-trust violations found and nothing done about it. The cynic in me doesn't expect much more than another investigation with no results now...I am hoping though'
June, I know what you mean. As I was telling Lisa many moons ago there was a strike. I will have to dig out the newspaper...I don't think much came of it, except a lot of trouble for farmers
Linda, you said it. We have legislators working round the clock to write new laws, many of which take away our freedom. Wouldn't it be nice if they enforced the ones written to protect us, rather than ignoring them in favor of whoever is paying them the most?
Farm Chick, it is so discouraging to see what is going on. As hard as it has been for us personally, we are seeing other folks, good farmers with generations of hard work and sound management behind them, getting hurt worse. Farms are being sold...families split up...people are just giving up their entire lives because there is simply nothing they can do...