Editor’s note: This commentary is by Leon Berthiaume, the CEO of St. Albans Cooperative Creamery.
[A]s a Vermont dairy industry leader for several decades, I have witnessed the challenges that dairy farmers face. Here in Vermont we have experienced wildly fluctuating milk prices that often don’t correspond to rising costs of production.
Investments have been made to support the dairy sector. Some have been disappointing because the longevity of these investments were much shorter than anticipated.
Similarly, I have seen new opportunities and investments occur that benefit this sector. The presence and growth of Ben & Jerry’s and the arrival of Commonwealth Dairy and Swan Valley have been an advantage to our economy. To ensure future investments that our valued customers may make in the state of Vermont, we must continue our milk volume growth to meet their needs. There must be success at the farm for these great companies to flourish.
We are proud that the membership of St. Albans Cooperative Creamery includes both. We believe strongly that we should not take their choice away.
Like all family-owned businesses, success in dairy farming comes in many forms. Vermont dairy farms vary in their land and animal size. Many dairy farmers are happy maintaining a small herd of cows while others seek to expand, which often leads to adding another generation on the farm to live and work in Vermont. Many choices face them including the size of their operation, how their livestock will be raised and what crops to plant. Market trends and factors such as the use of bovine growth hormones, meeting animal care standards and meeting environmental regulations are examples of other considerations they face.
The infrastructure for our industry is supported by the volume of the conventional and organic milk produced here in Vermont. Dairy farmers need to have the ability to choose which of type of milk they want to make on their farms. We are proud that the membership of St. Albans Cooperative Creamery includes both. We believe strongly that we should not take their choice away.
Some have argued that all Vermont dairy farms should transition to organic production. Flooding the market with organic milk would drive down the price that farmers receive. It would require extensive supply management and the need for new markets in the region that could challenge the financial stability of the entire farming infrastructure.
Organic producers have been successful in growing their volumes to meet customer demand. Pricing of organic products and generating necessary premiums have been and continue to be essential in supporting the higher costs of organic production. The consumers and markets will dictate the growth of this segment and we cannot move volumes of conventional milk to organic without assurance that these consumers and markets exist.
Since our inception in 1919, we have been committed to providing service, stable markets and the greatest achievable return to our members by delivering the highest quality milk, milk products and services to our customers. Regardless of whether a member is a conventional or organic farmer, this long-held philosophy will not change. In today’s world, there is room for both and we fully support them all.
