3 days ago
While Wisconsin sees a decline in dairy farms, Chippewa Valley production is up
EAU CLAIRE COUNTY, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX) – The cows at the Messerschmidt Dairy are having breakfast with busloads of their neighbors. Felicia Erickson and her husband, Dave Messerschmidt, hosted hundreds on the farm for a 4th year. This year's Hundreds on the Farm made Erickson and others reflect on the landscape of small dairy farms in the state. 'We milk 55 Holstein cows. And, we have young stock on the farm as well. My son just graduated from Fall Creek High School, and he was just one of two dairy farm kids in the whole school district. When my husband graduated from Fall Creek High School, there was 17 in his class alone. It's pretty scary when you think about the fact there's so few grade A dairy farms left in Eau Claire County.'
Former dairy farmer Roy Borseth recognizes how much the times have changed. 'The small dairy farm today is a struggle. They have to be very efficient to make a profit. A small farm has to have a full line of machinery, and that's expensive.
Being a part of America's Dairyland ain't easy. It comes with a lot of work and a little bit of sacrifice. Erickson explains, 'It's not just a job. It's your whole life. People just didn't take time off, and I think that was a little detrimental for the next generation to see that.'
However, UW-Extension Educator Ryan Sterry has noticed a positive trend. 'Between the three counties (Eau Claire, Chippewa, Dunn), there's 257 grade A permitted dairy farms. That's down from about 500 about a decade ago. Despite there (being) less farms, there's actually more milk produced today in the Chippewa Valley than there was 10 years ago.'
Sterry believes Wisconsin will continue to compete with the leading dairy producing the other leading dairy states. Production, as of late, has been gaining on top state, California
Sterry says it's vital for farmers of all stripes to find a niche market to fill. He says there are so many factors of business that dictate how much the product is worth. It takes a lot of skill and dedication to navigate the agriculture industry effectively.
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