organic milk farmers northeast under pressure

In 2019, the needs of dairy farms in north central Wisconsin intersected with National Farmers’ expertise in the dairy industry when producers searched out a new milk handler for the non-GMO milk they produce. Midwest Dairy Region Launches Non-GMO Effort, Credits Farms Bousman and Schroeder are both working hard to service existing members and expand milk shippers in the infancy of the Kentucky milk marketing program. He says heat and humidity in that area of the country really impacts the cows and stresses them. In the past nine months, the new members have given positive feedback about their new contract and National Farmers.Īndy Bousman is the dairy field representative for Kentucky. Marketers are exploring other opportunities in Georgia to place milk. The load is comprised of 14 producers’ milk, 1,000,000 lbs. “In mid-October 2020, we moved a load of milk a day into a new market for us, said Schroeder.

The discontented dairymen believed National Farmers’ milk marketing program was more suited for their needs. Their former milk marketer had proposed a new contract for the group that mandated producers assume all liabilities for balancing seasonal milk demand.

Schroeder met three separate times with a group of 15 producers, who were not satisfied with their milk marketer. Schroeder was approached by two producers from the Elkton, Kentucky area asking if National Farmers was interested in marketing milk for a handful of dairymen in the Bluegrass State. But that’s just what happened 10 months ago for National Farmers Great Lakes region dairy head Carl Schroeder. It’s not every day a National Farmers regional director has an opportunity to bring a new state into the dairy marketing family. Great Lakes Region Expands Into Kentucky, Sells Milk To Georgia The office has grown from six staff members in 2016 to 13 today. They continually perform cold calls, communicating with existing customers and brainstorming all avenues to place the milk. Selling spot loads because of multiple plant closures meant Bylsma, Administrative Assistant Missie Chamberlain and Office Manager Kate Lucas have been working non-stop to help place all of the new member milk. Today, the Northeast supplies organic milk to six companies as well as working closely with Finger Lakes Cooperative in both conventional and organic markets.įor the past five years in the Northeast, extreme market conditions challenged the National Farmers staff. Growth continued as more dairy farmers joined the National Farmers family of dairymen and dairywomen.Īfter outgrowing their facilities, they established a new headquarters in Cortland with office space to accommodate several more field staff and office members. In 2019, the dairy region entered into an agreement with Finger Lakes Milk Cooperative, providing payroll, milk sales and data management services.

Organic milk farmers northeast under pressure