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Smaller dairy farms trying to hang on

Many small dairies are trying to hang on as depressed milk prices force more producers to exit the business. 

Steve Anderson milks about 70 holsteins near Foley in central Minnesota.

“Since (the 2014) Farm Bill, when the price went down I guess in January of that period, we lost half our income. And we’ve been at that level now up to today.”

Dairy farmers, processors, and several area lawmakers met in Greenwald, Minnesota Tuesday to discuss possible solutions to low milk prices.

Mike Orbeck of St. Martin tells Brownfield he’s running about two dollars below break-even.

“I’m 58 years old, which helps a little because I’ve been doing this for a long time. I can’t see how guys with less than 20 years in the business are even surviving anymore.”

And Anderson says he’s worried any solution to low milk prices will come too late.

“I’ve milked cows since 1988, and…cows have just been a real big part of my life.”

Brownfield interviewed Anderson and Orbeck at the Dairy Together Roadshow in Greenwald hosted by Minnesota Farmers Union.

Steve Anderson audio:

Mike Orbeck audio: