Low Milk Prices + Higher Labor Costs + Pricing System = Closing CNY Dairy Farms

Central New York dairy farmers are facing such difficult times that they’re considering leaving the business altogether.  A combination of persistently low prices of milk and rising labor costs are forcing long-time farmers to make some tough decisions. John F. Tucker and Sons has 140 milking cows, with another 80 so-called young stock.  They also grow corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, and alfalfa hay for the cows on their 1,200 acres.  Mark Tucker says it’s just he and his brother, along with a few hired hands.  The other six siblings and his grown children aren’t interested in the long hours and hard work.  So, he says, that doesn’t leave him much of a choice. Tucker says they'd try to boost their production to improve their margins.  But he says there's already too much milk on the market, and they pay a penalty to milk companies for over-producing.    Tucker says the problem is exacerbated by reduced demand and limited exporting opportunities.  "It started about four years ago.  You usually go in cycles anyway, where you have good years and bad years.  This cycle has been running a bit longer than we've had in the past.  We're really starting to feel the pressure this year."