cbcr
Well-known member
Part of the problem are all the non-milk products on the shelves, soy, almond, etc. Consumers seem to follow fads and these fake milk products have taken an ever increasing market share the last few years. When I have been at the store and someone is getting a fake milk, when I ask them why the are drinking fake milk most don't have a good answer.
The family farm, and not just dairy, is threatened. As was mentioned it has gotten to the point of everyone has to get big or get out. But if you stop and think about the economy, if 10 small family farms discontinue and the families move out of the area, what does that do to the local economy compared to one large operation. Automobiles, food, clothing, gas and other items a normal family purchases, those businesses are hurt as well. What about taxes for the schools and the counties? Is that large operation going to take up the slack? Yes, they may employ several people, but the balance of trade locally still falls short.
Walmart has built their own processing plant and rather than it be for a situation that could help small farmers, they want farms that can produce a tanker load. So many of the small dairy farms that some have been in the family for generations have been forced to sell their herds and some have even had to sell their land to pay off the debt. The cows for many didn't sell very well because the neighbors and others around them are afraid that they will lose their milk contracts next.
Our local walmart milk is $3.48 but at a walmart 25 miles from us it is $2.27 per gallon.
The family farm, and not just dairy, is threatened. As was mentioned it has gotten to the point of everyone has to get big or get out. But if you stop and think about the economy, if 10 small family farms discontinue and the families move out of the area, what does that do to the local economy compared to one large operation. Automobiles, food, clothing, gas and other items a normal family purchases, those businesses are hurt as well. What about taxes for the schools and the counties? Is that large operation going to take up the slack? Yes, they may employ several people, but the balance of trade locally still falls short.
Walmart has built their own processing plant and rather than it be for a situation that could help small farmers, they want farms that can produce a tanker load. So many of the small dairy farms that some have been in the family for generations have been forced to sell their herds and some have even had to sell their land to pay off the debt. The cows for many didn't sell very well because the neighbors and others around them are afraid that they will lose their milk contracts next.
Our local walmart milk is $3.48 but at a walmart 25 miles from us it is $2.27 per gallon.