“Farmers are struggling all over the country,” said Durand dairy farmer, Don Weiss. “They’re struggling in grain, cattle, no matter what, it’s just not a good situation for any farmer.”
According to the Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin lost 638 dairy farms in 2018. Farmers met for a town hall at the Weiss Family Farms in Durand on Wednesday to talk to officials about their struggles.
“The farmers in here aren’t looking to get ric,h but I think we are asking to simply be able to provide for our family,” one farmer commented.
Many in attendance called for more resources and fairer prices for the products they pour their hearts into.
“We have the most important job of feeding the people of the world, but yet we don’t make anything on a paycheck,” another farmer added.
“It’s is very devastating because like you said, everything costs so much compared to what we’re getting, compared to what we got back in the 70s and 80s are almost comparable prices,” Weiss told News 18.
Farmers are getting ten dollars less per 100 pounds of milk than they did a decade ago, all while production is rising, driving prices down. And the problems go far beyond financial.
“To find out that farmers are committing suicide because of what’s going on in their lives, across the state of Wisconsin, and it’s on the rise,” said Rep. Jesse James (R-Altoona). “That is extremely concerning.”
County and state leaders echoed a message for farmers to help each other through their difficult times.
“That’s what it’s about, is farmers help one another,” said Paula Winter, director of the Pepin Co. Department of Human Services. “It’s about community, it’s about listening, it’s about caring, it’s about loving, and I was very blessed with this community.”
For now, they’re just hoping for a day when greener pastures are on their own farms.
The new U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal, meant to replace NAFTA, is currently going through Congress. The deal promises American dairy farmers will have increased access to Canada’s market. However, farmers worry this may not be a viable solution since it doesn’t cover all farmers and it will still take time to ratify and implement.