Disappearing dairy farms
US - Bradwin Winters began dairy farming as soon as he graduated from Penn State University in 1974. With his cousin, Rick Sechler, as his business partner, he operated Sec-Win Farms and milked 90 cows.
5 February 2007
2 minute read
The partners milked in a stanchion barn, which forced them to constantly bend over to wash the cows' udders and put on the milkers. After years of work, both of Winters' knees wore out. Today he is 54 and just underwent his second knee replacement.
“It's just a no-win situation; you just beat yourself up,” he said.
Winters and Sechler sold their cows, but still grow hay and corn. Winters' youngest son wanted to go into farming, but Winters said he “basically wouldn't let him.”
“It's just not worth it,” Winters said.
Winters' decision is one many Somerset County farmers have made in recent years. In 1998, the county was home to 325 dairy farms, according to data from the Penn State Cooperative Extension. By 2004, there were only 245 dairy farms here, a loss of 85 farms.
The disappearance of dairy farms is a trend that is occurring statewide, confirmed Mike Pechart, policy director for the state Department of Agriculture. Since 1996, Pennsylvania has lost 2,000 dairy farms, he said.
The numbers are significant, because, according to Department of Agriculture reports, agriculture is the state's No. 1 industry and dairy accounts for 42 percent of the state's agricultural sector. Dairy contributes $4.2 billion annually to the state's economy.
The decline is a matter the state Dairy Task Force is looking at closely, said Gary Heckman, the executive director of the state Center for Dairy Excellence. On Tuesday, the task force's economic development council met in Harrisburg and formed a committee to investigate why the state is losing farms and what can be done to reverse the trend.
Source: Daily American
