Board needs to recognize farmers
It’s June. It’s our turn to shine. We can expect the Marathon County Board of Supervisors this month to adopt a familiar resolution proclaiming June is Dairy Month. The resolution will likely mention Marathon County’s state and national reputation for milk production, as well as the economic contribution of both dairy production and processing to the local economy. More will be said about the family farm and teaching young people the value of work.
That’s enough of a message to take to any of the many June dairy breakfasts that are sprinkled across western Marathon County and enjoy a plate of pancakes, eggs, sausage, ice cream and cheese curds.
A dairy breakfast presents an opportunity to pat your belly with the satisfaction of knowing that there are skilled people here, as part of our community, dedicated to feeding a hungry planet.
Our only request is that the county board, which, as of this past election, no longer has any dairy farmers on it, praise our dairy industry for what it is, not for any romantic memories of red barns, Flossie and making hay in June.
Today’s dairy business is not what it was. It is consolidated, well financed, competitive and part of the global food system.
If you go back to the 1920’s, Marathon County had over six thousand farms supplying milk from 65,000 cows to as many as 157 cheese factories. These days, merely 409 farms send milk from 61,000 cows to a handful of cheese plants. The miracle is that these dairies generate 1,421,300,000 pounds of milk. The county is among the 25-top producing milk counties in the United States.
This production is built on land great for forage, top bovine genetics, good transportation, veterinarians, hoof trimmers, tractor repairmen and other supportive businesses. Immigrant labor is key. The federal government plays a role, too. Environmental Working Group reports that Marathon County farms received $266 million in total USDA subsidies between 1995 and 2020. The top five recipients, who are all large dairies, individually received between $1.7 million and $2.6 million in that same time frame.
These payments are, like it or not, a down payment on food security. The free market provides the milk that goes on your Cheerios. It is government policy, however, to make sure that fresh milk is there.
Any statement in praise of county dairy farmers should acknowledge that, in this age of specialization, there are so many different kinds of farmers who participate in the dairy industry. Many local farmers, for instance, raise heifer replacements for today’s large dairies. These farmers never milk a cow, but their contribution is important. Many farmers raise crops, including high moisture corn, forage and soybeans, that turn into dairy feed. Again, these farmers never milk a cow, but they are critical to the county’s milk production. These farmers should be applauded, too.
Last year, the county passed its June Dairy Month resolution in a non-debated statement that not just boasted about dairy production and economic impact but how the industry taught youth about “work ethic” and “dedication.” There are many people in agriculture who, like others in many walks of life, are hard working, but it seems a bit dated to hold up the work ethic of an industry that is a major investor in robots.
We thank the county board in advance for highlighting our local dairy producers. We just ask that the message be current and accurate.
Editorial by Peter Weinschenk, The Record-Review
