Ag secretary: No guarantee small dairy farms will survive

[RandySF]

MADISON, Wis. — President Donald Trump's agriculture secretary said Tuesday during a stop in Wisconsin that he doesn't know if the family dairy farm can survive as the industry moves toward a factory farm model.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told reporters following an appearance at the World Dairy Expo in Madison that it's getting harder for farmers to get by on milking smaller herds.

"In America, the big get bigger and the small go out," Perdue said. "I don't think in America we, for any small business, we have a guaranteed income or guaranteed profitability."

Perdue's visit comes as Wisconsin dairy farmers are wrestling with a host of problems, including declining milk prices, rising suicide rates, the transition to larger farms with hundreds or thousands of animals and Trump's international trade wars.

Wisconsin, which touts itself as America's Dairyland on its license plates, has lost 551 dairy farms in 2019 after losing 638 in 2018 and 465 in 2017, according to data from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The Legislature's finance committee voted unanimously last month to spend an additional $200,000 to help struggling farmers deal with depression and mental health problems.



http://www.startribune.com/trump-farm-secretary-blames-china-for-trade-wars/561869562/

[mwooldri]

1. America could adopt Canada style quotas....

... but since it reeks of socialism I don't think anyone in this present administration would even consider such an idea.

[Volaris]

2. '...and the small go out.' Well, Perdue would know, wouldn't he...SINCE HE BOUGHT THEM ALL.

this entire administration and a majority of our senate are populated with holier than thou, Galts Gulch Grifter motherfuckers who dont give a shit about the people who actually keep them rich.

I'm REALLY leaning toward voting for Warren...

[Marie Marie]

3. Gee, I remember how concerned the Republicans were about these small

farms when they wanted to ditch the estate tax. Remember how they kept mentioning how these small farmers wouldn't be able to pass down these farms to their families (which was utter bullshit). Just like our veterans - use 'em and lose 'em.