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As I write this, it is June Dairy Month. The class III milk price was below $10 cwt; what a way to celebrate. Not even one-half of a somewhat decent price. It is way past time that we have a pricing structure that allows a person to run a dairy farm, feed their family and pay bills on time.

Some will say "that is impossible," but I want to remind you of the changes in agriculture in the last 25 to 30 years. At one time many people thought it was impossible to put hundreds or even thousands of milk cows at one location; it apparently worked, perhaps too well. Many people thought genetically modified plants would not be possible, or satellite guided equipment. Perhaps the most relevant example is CWT (Cooperatives Working Together). Over two-thirds of dairy farmers have agreed to a supply management program. However, milk prices tell us more needs to be done.

If you agree more needs to be done, I need your help.

Take a copy of this article, sign below my name and put it on your bulk tank. Instruct your milk hauler to deliver it to the management of the plant that receives your milk. If your milk goes to a co-op and the plant manger says "It's impossible," remind him that he works for you and in this job climate he would be easy to replace.

We need a meeting with co-op leaders, both management and farmers. This meeting must produce a price that is constant for the majority of our milk and the price level must be set by the farmers.

I am going to try to get this article in as many dairy publications as I can. If I have missed any publications, feel free to submit the article to your dairy news outlet.

Submitted by Mark Rohr, dairy farmer, Bluffton, Minn.[[In-content Ad]]

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