WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Farmers Consider Supply Management

Farmers Consider Supply Management

Middlebury, Vermont - October 12, 2009

At a time when milk prices are lower than they have been in decades farmers are struggling to keep afloat. Many are borrowing hundreds of thousand of dollars just to stay open until the end of the year.

Relief is on its way. Congress passed a $350 million farm support package last week. It is now waiting for President Obama's signature. Most of that money will go directly to farmers, while $60 million will go to foodbanks and other food assistance organizations so they can buy cheese, which will increase the demand for milk.

At the annual meeting of the Addison County Farm Bureau, Monday night, many farmers said they appreciate the help but it is not enough.

"When you're losing fifteen to twenty thousand dollars a month and somebody hands you twenty five hundred dollars it's nice but it's still along ways away from getting all the expenses paid," said Jerry Connor, owner of Morgan Hill Farms in Bridport.

Senator Bernie Sanders spoke at the meeting. He told the farmer he and some of his colleagues are doing all they can to keep farms alive. He also said it is time for farmers to start making tough choices and seriously consider supply management practices.

"What happens when prices go up a bit and farmers start producing a whole lot, it drives prices down, and it's up and down, and it's up and down, and that volatility makes it very difficult," Sanders told the farmers.

Most farmers have been historically opposed to supply management because it limits how much they can produce. But organic farmers found some success when they were told to cut back production by 7 percent and now others see it as the only way to survive long term.

"I like making milk and I want to be a free farmer too but I want to make some money," said Connor. "I'm not asking to be rich I just want to be able to pay my bills."

Unless a change comes quick farmers say they can't hold on much longer. The trick will be getting farmers from across the country to agree to supply management practices.

Bianca Slota - WCAX News