Local Dairy Farmers Meet With Elected Officials on Low Milk Prices

Local Dairy Farmers Meet With Elected Officials on Low Milk Prices
01/13/17 02:30pm

Everything
You Need To
Know About
Lewis County
In One Place!

Search Our Site:

Google Suggested Content:

owville, NY-

Local dairy farmers had a chance to address elected officials

this morning at a meeting held at the Lowville Fire Hall. Farmers brought up a

number of concerns, as they discussed the low price farmers are receiving for

milk and government programs and policies they feel are putting them at a

disadvantage.

Elected officials on hand to listen were:

Addie Jenne- NYS Assemblywoman

Joe Nehme- Representing U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer's office

Dave Fisher- President of NYS Farm Bureau

Jim Durkish- Representing NYS Senator Joseph Griffo's Office

Brian Peck- Chief of Staff for NYS Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush

Madeline Donovan- Representing U.S> Congresswoman Elise Stefanik's office

Liz Swearingin- Lewis County Manager

Richard Chartrand- Lewis County Legislator

Mike Tabolt- Lewis County Legislator Chairman

Craig Brennan- Lewis County Legislator

Larry Dolhoff- Lewis County Legislator

Andrea Moroughan- Lewis County Legislator

Phil Hathaway- Lewis County Legislator

The emotionally charged meeting lasted about two hours, with farmers first

voicing their concerns, followed by a period where each of the elected official

representatives were able to make a statement. The intention of the meeting,

organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension, was for farmers to bring concerns

and constructive solutions to the attention of the elected officials, who could

address their concerns in their respective legislative roles.

Farmers expressed their concerns about their viability, with many stating that

the low price they receive per 100 pounds of milk has forced them into financial

strain.

We have raw audio, which started just a little bit into the meeting, that you can

listen to below if you missed the meeting. The statements made by each

elected official or their representative are towards the end of the audio.

Click link below for audio:

A large group of dairy farmers turned out for a meeting
with elected officials this morning in Lowville.