Northeast Dairy Survival: Processors Require Improvements In Milk Supply ANDY ANDREWS Editor HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) Dairying isn’t what it used to be. And neither are milk prices. In fact, in the past seven years, the Order 1 blend fell four times below $l2 per CWT, then took off, re cuperating for a time before the cycle began again. This time, the price has fallen below $l2 per CWT and “it’s flat,” said Rick Smith, Dairylea Coopera tive chief executive officer. “That’s what makes this cycle so absolutely painful.” Smith spoke in early December last year during the Pennsylvania Dairy Stakeholders 2002 Annual Conference at the Holiday Inn East in Harrisburg. Despite all the turmoil and the flat price, produc ers are doing what they can. But they can do more, because processors are consolidating and require greater supplies of milk. If the processors can’t get milk from Northeast producers, surely they’ll get it from the West. Smith told the few hundred who attended the conference that “we need an attitude and a culture <jjSt) STORAGE & GRAIN HANDLING EQUIP. We Manufacture... • Hammer Mills • Augers We also do custom steel manufacturing aFs automatic farm systems 608 E Evergreen Road Lebanon. PA 17042 Phone 717-274-5333 ABADAMSTOM EQUIPMENT NEW and USED John Deere Equipment John Deere Parts Shipped Daily Ups OBox 456, Bowmansville, Rd, Adamstown, PA 19501 John Deere 717-484-4391 Visit us at www.adamstownequlpment.com E-mail AdamstownEq.® JDPealer.com If we are not growing, if we are not moving forward, if we are not showing we are inno vative, flexible, and adaptive, this industry will go into a death spiral. of growth here in the Northeast,” he said. “If we are not growing, if we are not moving forward, if we are not showing we are innovative, flexible, and adap tive, this industry will go into a death spiral.” Dairylea has about 2,500 producer-members pro ducing 5.5 billion pounds of milk yearly. Dairylea, based in Syracuse, N.Y., in October conducted its 95th annual cooperative meeting with the theme, “Strength Through Unity.” Said Smith, “For those with the right attitude, there is tremendous opportunity.”* Smith explained the various mergers with (Turn to Page A 10) A 717-866-0200 AfiriLi Toll Free 888-866-0201 Equipment 630 E. Lincoln Ave. Rt. 422 Myerstown, Pa 17067 Jake Stoltzfus & Mike Brendle, Owners We Sell & Service: 9 W\ * Ewami «VflimETflU Silo Doors by • jfarra muid * l i&bsssl j{sisa> • *~f?/SSLER~) • | Lancaster -MANUFACTURING J STszz-r- - * Piaster Conveyors * Silos • Silo Reline _ Telemark Leasing IS Sterns Leasing Rick Smith CEO, Dairylea .A if ifriA t henUgr of |Pf
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