The cows and farmers at several Sullivan County dairy farms will remain employed for at least a few more months, thanks to a recent contract extension by a Connecticut milk broker.
Marcus Dairy Inc. plans to continue buying milk produced by the farms until the fall, according to Daniel Diehl, who helps run his family’s farm in Callicoon with his uncle, Jack Diehl.
“Right now, it’s just at a standstill,” Daniel Diehl said.
The Diehl farm is one of six dairy farms in the county notified by the milk broker in late May that it would no longer purchase their product.
The initial deadline to find another milk buyer was June 30, but the farms previously received extensions through July.
The Diehl farm has been doing business with Marcus Dairy for about 20 years.
The other farms affected by Marcus Dairy’s decision are Diehl Homestead Farm in Callicoon, which is run by Jack Diehl’s nephew, Adam; Earl Myers Century Farm in Jeffersonville; Weissmann Dairy Farm in Callicoon; Dan Peters Farm in North Branch; and Kays Farm in Callicoon, according to Melinda Meddaugh, agriculture and food systems team leader for Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County.
Weissmann Dairy Farm sold its dairy cows last month.
The farms are experiencing the effects of an industry-wide problem. Too much supply and falling demand have forced brokers to let farmers go, which has a ripple effect on the other industries that make dairy farming possible.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is working with a consultant funded by the county’s industrial development agency to find short- and long-term solutions for these dairy farms to sell their milk.
U.S. Rep. John Faso is trying to help as well by making calls to dairy processors in the region, but nothing has come through yet.
Daniel Diehl is hopeful of finding a solution, but noted that another few months isn’t a lot of time.
“It’s just pretty much waiting at this point, finding something different,” he said. “Nothing’s really come up, unfortunately.”
Source: recordonline.com
