I can’t speak for all farmers but for us and those who I have had conversations with we are concerned.
Our first concern is for our employees. We want them safe and healthy. We have protocols posted. A month or so ago we had something go thru and our guys were dropping like flies – but they also stepped up and covered for each other – we have great, committed employees that we appreciate greatly.
As a dairy farmer there is such a long list of stopping points to be concerned about.
First is will our employees stay healthy enough to do the work?
Truck drivers would be next in line. Will our transporting company have enough healthy drivers to pick up our milk? If no one can pick up the milk, the milk would have to be dumped.
The next stop is the processing plant. If the virus goes through a processing plant it could be shut down if not enough employees were there to do the job. If there was no place for our milk to be taken, the milk would have to be dumped.
Another link – will the processing plants be able to take delivery of enough containers to bottle the milk?
School shutdowns, sporting events, restaurants closing – less demand for milk, butter, cheeses etc. On the other hand, with kids home from school and more people eating at home the demand could go up. But . . . if the stores can’t get the products due to previous issues then . . .
The worst thing for dairy farmers is to have to dump milk. We are extremely fragile now and if you add the loss of more income, it could be the last nail in the coffin for some.
Future milk prices have been down but who in the world can predict what the future in pricing will be.
With large gatherings coming to a halt, my mind goes to Farmer’s Markets where many depend on their weekly fresh produce. Not only will that affect those who purchase, but what about those farmers who depend on this market?
Before even thinking about the Farmers Market, I have a friend who hires seasonal workers and right now is when they start the process. There is concern that workers will not be able to enter the country to do the work. Ripe produce lasts only so long. If not harvested it will go to waste.
Now, on to the next thing on our minds. Spring planting. Will we be able to get our seed? Will the seed companies have drivers to deliver? We need fuel for the tractors to plant. Will we have fuel delivery per usual or a shortage on that? What about fertilizers?
How will we pay for any of the spring planting, fuel, fertilizer if we are dumping milk or if the milk prices drop even further?
When your business is farming, you are always planning ahead. We can’t stop the ship abruptly or turn quickly. The decisions made today will affect way past tomorrow.
So, you can see this is all very precipitous to say the least.
Now, on the upswing. We always have to have an upswing.
I pray that all of us have had a wakeup call to see how we easily presume there will be food. Our food supply is the cheapest around and we just don’t appreciate that value. Perhaps as this plays out more and more of us will connect our food to a farmer.
