Production of goods and services has progressed through many generations. Our ancestors saw the progression extend from the agricultural age, to the industrial age and now we are experiencing the progression into a technological society. While advancement may have several benefits, it also has several downfalls. With the changing of time, much less emphasis has been placed on the older agricultural (farming, mining) mindset. Such lack of attention raises a question of what is happening to agriculture.
Noticeably, the majority of food and beverages purchased in local grocery stores and farmers markets are imported from other countries. Our society is fully 
aware of the current economical situation, as we are reminded daily through media outlets (i.e. television, newspapers, and internet.) I am going to explore one area of agriculture in the U.S. that is feeling the effects of a fallen economy, the dairy industry.
Dairy is a resource in many items consumed each day. For example, dairy products or byproducts are in boxed cereals, breads, lunch meats, cheese, and even “non-dairy cheese”, says Ashley Skabar. Generally, either complete dairy items or proteins from dairy items are found in the nutrients we consume. Therefore, without the operation of local dairies many of our foods would seize to exist or at least exist as they do. This failure to exist is a thought that many dairy farmers fear may become realization.
Prices per gallon of milk have decreased fifty cents since last year. This drop has decreased farmer’s income by fifty percent. “That number, coupled with record high prices for cattle feed, may force countless dairies out of business,” says Deborah Feldman of NWCN news.
Washington State farmers, Tim and Cathy Thomasson have owned and operated their dairy for 38 years and say, “We love the life the farm has offered our family and kids, [but] everyday that we get up and milk those cows we lose money.”
Due to the decline in the economy Arizona dairy farmers are beginning to slaughter cows to stay in business, said Betty Beard of the Arizona Republic. On average cows require $180 per month to survive, but with the economy farmers are loosing $100 per cow, as milk prices continue to decline.
In the past the U.S. has become dependent on exporting milk (about twenty percent) to other countries like Mexico, but now Mexico is producing more milk, which is further hurting the industry, says Keith Murfield of the United Dairymen of Arizona. With the decline of consumer’s willingness to pay equal or greater value than the input for dairy products, several dairy farms are in jeopardy of going out of business. Unless a change occurs where farmers are compensated for the price for production, people will be left without dairy products. Many of the foods we consume will either be discontinued or made with alternate ingredients that may change the product altogether. Is this a price we are willing to take?
Personally, I hope for the sake of our economical livelihood and precious resources that dairies are able to find stability soon, before every desirable good is either slaughtered or imported from other countries.
Resources:
Beard, Betty (2009, Mar. 17). Ariz. cattle being slaughtered as low milk prices leave. Retrieved April 28, 2009, from Dairies in peril Web site: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/03/17/20090317biz-agriculture0317.html
Feldman, Deborah (2009, Apr. 20). Dairy farmers caught in dire economic squeeze. Retrieved April 30, 2009, from News Headlines Web site: http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_042009BUB_dairy-farmers-economic-squeeze-JM.f2b1a539.html
Skabar, Ashley Foods that Contain “Hidden” Dairy Products. Retrieved April 30, 2009, from Dairy Free Cooking Web site: http://dairyfreecooking.about.com/od/dairyfreebasics/tp/HiddenDairyProducts.htm
