Cayuga County is the largest producer of milk in New York State and dairy farmers in the county are all too familiar with the struggle to keep thier doors open.

With the expiration date set in September, dairy farmers worry about the passing of the farm bill like sixth Generation farmers Julie and Jon Patterson.

“Right now we’re in a turn where the milk prices continue to drop and our costs are continuing to stay very high,” said Julie.

If the bill expires so will some of its programs which include commodity programs.

It is the “Margin Protection Program for Dairy,” which helps dairy producers protect the financial “margin” between milk prices and the feed costs to produce that milk.

We get letters from vendors saying we have to raise our prices because of labor increases — which is understandable. We can’t pass those costs on to anybody. We have to look at our budgets, work on our budgets, and try to figure out how we’re going to make it work.

With the struggle of rising inflation, Julie and Jon not only thought of their future but also the future of their fellow dairy farmers.

We have neighbors that decided to exit the dairy industry and instead of producing milk themselves, they are continuing to farm their land and providing feed for our cattle.

With generations of farming under their belts, the Patterson’s said they are thinking of the future of young farmers and the potential economic struggle they might have.”The laws they pass, how they impact us, and how they are going to impact future generations to come — I don’t think we can just hope it’s going to be better because it doesn’t look like it will be if we aren’t fighting for it,” said Jon Patterson.