Milk base price

[countrygal]

If you would like to support the dairy farmer's request to have an $18 milk base price and to adjust the price to reflect feed prices and other economic conditions which affect market supply and demand for milk and dairy products, you can call 1-202-720-3631. I believe it is the Sec. of Ag.'s office. When the person answers you just say you're calling in support of the milk base price, she will transfer you to another office where they will ask what state you're calling from and that's it. I guess they're just keeping track of how many support the idea. This would make a big difference in keeping farms in business and consumers able to keep buying fresh dairy products.

[snickers]

Consider it done! Hang tough. I hope you can weather this.

[Clipper]

I not only called for myself,CG, I called a few of my friends and I managed to get 4 of them to call also, and a couple are going to call tomorrow for a total of 6. I have the number programmed into my cell phone so I can pass it along whenever I can squeeze a plug in for farmers in my daily travels and coffee stops, hahaha. Just tonight, I was at the bowling alley and my friend bought a cup of coffee and was putting the milk into it. I asked him if he knew how much the farmer that produces that little plastic thing of milk got for 100 pounds of milk. Naturally he did not know and was truly shocked when I told him. We got chatting about farming and my work experience on a farm when I was younger. I told him about my visit to your operation and told him he should visit a dairy and check it out. I told him that it is not his "grandpa's farm" anymore and that he won't find any little old man sitting on a 3 legged stool, pulling teats, like we did years ago, hahaha. Do ya remember when herds were small enough that we stripped every cow by hand after we took off the machines?

I love farming and the country life, and wish I could be part of it in my old age, but that isn't going to happen. The milk price thing is just plain shameful. Our country can do much better for the farmers that put the milk in our glasses and the food on our table.

Hey kiddo, I will do my damnedest to spread the word and to pass around the phone number. Say hi to hubby and the boys.

[clarencebunsen]

Is there any truth to the rumor that when the young man from Winner SD was asked what he planned to do with his lottery winnings, he replied "Just keep farming until the money's gone."

I think for our next protest we all need to send an empty milk carton to our favorite elected official. That's what we'll have when our dairy farmers are gone.

Perhaps they can arrange thousands of forced bankruptcies and sales to a Chinese conglomerate. Then we can import cheap melamine laced milk from China.

[Clipper]

Your observations are 100% on point Clarence. We need to find some way to wake up our government to the necessity to preserve the American farm. I have to think that the reason that farmers are not the focus of our governemt leaders is because they are just "common folk", feeding not only our own country, but much of the free world. They aren't filling the pockets of politicians to overflowing and purchasing the necessary influence.

Government reps don't recognize the dire need to support American agriculture because your local farmer is not part of corporate America, is not on the stock market, and is not wealthy enough to PAY politicians for influence in voting. Auto giants, banks, insurance companies, and other industries with money to spend on lobbying (graft) and outright vote purchasing under the guises of lobbying, rule the roost. If you can't put a buck in the DC politicians pocket, you won't getting any support on the hill, if there is another, richer, more influential, interest competing for the same dollars. It's all about the money!

This IS a direly needed boost for farmers. Farmers deserve a bailout before industry does. Farmers are always offered "low interest loans", but what good is a loan if their product is costing them more to produce than it pays on the market when sold?

It is time for government to put price supports in place that GUARANTEE a decent price for milk to the farmer, and regulate the price at the level of the processor or retailer, if it needs to be regulated at all. Other products are not regulated at the production level, and we simply pay whatever price the market will bear at the retail level. Why is milk or any other agricultural product different?

As far as dumping milk and demonstrating for higher prices, that idea has thus far been unsuccessful. As far back as the early 60's and earlier, there have been demonstrations. In the 60's (correct me if I am wrong CG) the NFO (The national farmer's association) came into being. Milk was dumped, farmers marched on the capital mall, and all sorts of pressure was brought to bear on government in a plea to help the American farmer. It obviously was to no avail. NFO was an attempt to form a new and more powerful "co-op" than the existing ones at the time. GLF and the Dairymen's League had been unsuccessful in obtaining a satisfactory resolution to the farmer's problems, so NFO was formed by farmers desperate to save the family farm. They fought valiantly, but obviously have also been unsuccessful in turning the head of our ignorant politicians in DC and Albany.

EVERY AMERICAN THAT DRINKS OR USES MILK NEEDS TO CALL THE NUMBER LISTED ABOVE, AND MAKE THEIR VOICE HEARD IN FAVOR MILK PRICE SUPPORTS. You don't have to be a farmer, or a country person to fall in line behind the great, hard working people that feed us. City slickers drink milk too, right? It only took me about 5-10 minutes to make my call to 1-202-720-3631, so grab the phone and do our country a great service by supporting our dairy industry.

[countrygal]

Thanks for the support everyone!

[countrygal]

OK, so my Mom called today and they asked for her name and state. They never asked for my name so I'm gonna call them back. Just be aware they may ask for your name when and/or if you call.

[Clipper]

When Kathy and I called, they asked both of us for our name and state of residence.

Snagged two more today while waiting for Kathy at the doctor's office. I got into a conversation first about the local farmer's market, and how good it is to have it open for the season, and THEN bada bing, bada boom, we swung the conversation around to the Base Price for milk, and I was able to explain it to an interested former tobacco farmer, and he called right from the doctor's office waiting room on his cell. Scratch up one more! He was going to have his wife call also, and that would make two for the day, haha. It is amazing how many people know absolutely NOTHING about the plight of the American farmer. I have the number programmed into my cell, so I can pass it along every chance I get, LOL.

[countrygal]

Yea!!! Keep at em Clip!!

[Clipper]

I haven't been out and about much lately CG, but I did send emails to a few of my friends on my email contact list, that are politically interested and active in issues of interest to the American working man.

Here in Tennessee we pay an average of $3.29 to $4.29 per gallon. I simply asked my friends if they thought it fair that the farmer that produces that high quality, safe, product is paid less than cost, to produce it and market it. I simply asked them how long they thought a "business" might stay in operation when the cost of production exceeds the selling price of the product produced.

I am sure that many of those community and politically active people will call the number.

Some of my friends are as outspoken, opinionated and as loud as I am, haha. They WILL spread the word and pass the telephone number along. It will be better than a chain letter when it is all said and done, haha.

Hope to see you and the family at the picnic in August. I will be disappointed if you guys can't make it. Say hi to hubby and be well sweetheart. I hope you are all well, and not working too hard.

[lucy]

Hello Countrygal I am passing this onto my family and friends to call. I also have a family members that are farmers so I do take an interest in the family working farm. You provide so much to people on a daily basis and its important to keep you around.