Dairy Farming

Articles and news about dairy farming and milk production, a leading industry in rural Upstate New York.

Local Farmers Financially Impacted by COVID-19

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Local Farmers Financially Impacted by COVID-19

Dutch Hollow Farms is part of a co-op, so while Chittenden says they’re luckier than independent farms their co-op still asked them to cut their milk production by six percent.

“Our milk wasn’t being disposed of, it was still gonna get shipped but we just weren’t gonna get paid for it,” Chittenden said. “So to make the product and not get paid for it is a humongous economic hit to this business — so we have to figure out a way to make less milk — we actually sold 35 cows yesterday.

Dutch Hollow Farms has Jersey cows, which produce higher fat content and higher protein milk than other milk producing breed, so Chittenden says their milk is often favored over some other farms. But that’s not the only reason he says their family feels fortunate.

Nate is a great guy and his social media, especially his Twitter is great - but also follow him on Facebook. They dairy just outside of Castleton on Hudson, producing wonder Jersey milk on the fertile gently rolling country above the Hudson River. 

Helping Dairy Farmers And Those In Need | Karianne Fallow | Dairy West’s Curds + Kindness Program

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OFI 820: Helping Dairy Farmers And Those In Need | Karianne Fallow | Dairy West’s Curds + Kindness Program

5/15/2020 by Matt Brechwald

Web player: https://podplayer.net/?id=105279729
Episode: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/offincome/OFI_820__Helping_Dairy_Farmers_And_Those_In_Need___Karianne_Fallow___Dairy_Wests_Curds__Kindness_Program.mp3

It is always amazing to see the ideas, innovation and compassion that come out during a crisis. Two weeks ago I did a bonus episode of the show about the “Dairy Drive Thru” that was being put on by the State University Of New York – Morrisville. After creating that episode I thought of the folks that I am familiar with in the dairy industry in my home state of Idaho – Dairy West. I sent the link of this episode to the CEO of Dairy West, Karianne Fallow, and told her that this seemed like a great way to help dairy farmers and the public during the pandemic. Karianne got right back to me and let me know that Dairy West already had their own program in place called “Curds + Kindness”. They were also obtaining dairy products and giving them away to the public as a way to keep dairy farmers from having to dump milk. She offered to come on the show and talk about the project, and I was very excited to profile this effort. On this episode of the Off-Farm Income Podcast I have a great conversation with Karianne about “Curds + Kindness”. She will break down how you can help, what locations that dairy products are being distributed at currently and how long this project will go on. This interview definitely made me proud of what is going on right in my own back yard!

With so many dairy farmers struggling to put food on their own table it’s great see how much they’re stepping up across the country to help neighbors in need. They always say those with the least are the most generous.