ALBANY – New York State’s dairy farmers and Chenango County’s own Chobani Greek-style Yogurt were in the limelight Wednesday during a so-called “yogurt summit” hosted by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The event attracted stakeholders and officials from all facets of the industry, from farmers and yogurt manufacturers to officials from Agriculture and Markets, the New York Power Authority, Cornell University and the Farm Land Trust. Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers said the size and scope of the event was perhaps its most impressive aspect.
“The most important piece of this whole thing is ag is finally sitting at the table and the governor of the State of New York is finally looking at the fact that ag is a key player in how New York State operates,” said Vickers.
Demand for dairy has increased significantly with the success of Chobani, the nation’s number three yogurt manufacturer, and with other Greek-style yogurt makers setting up shop in the state. Greek yogurt is creamier, less sweet tasting yogurt than more traditional yogurt and requires three times as much milk in its production. As a result, manufacturers are being forced to look outside the state for milk.
To capitalize on the nation’s demand, Gov. Cuomo took the opportunity to remove some of the environmental regulations that make it costly for farmers to grow their herds to more than 200 cows. The structural regulations, according to one farmer who spoke during the summit, currently costs farmers more than $2,000 per cow in order to increase the herd from 199 to 201 cows. Dairy farmers have argued that the feedlots known as “concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO)” require huge investments in barns and facilities if a herd goes over 200 head.
“The high cost of obtaining CAFO permits holds back family farms. Cutting this mandate will open the gate for immediate expansion at many New York farms while keeping environmental safeguards in place. Next, we need to examine additional regulations so that our true stewards of the land can grow and create jobs without facing excessive costs or unnecessary regulatory roadblocks,” said Sen. James Seward, R/C/I – Oneonta.
Chenango County Cornell Cooperative Extension Director Ken Smith said while the change is “a good first step,” what is really needed is a comprehensive plan like Wisconsin’s so called “30 by 20” goal where the industry, the state, farmers and the educational institutions are all working together toward the same goal.
“Wisconsin plans to increase production by 30 billion pounds of milk by 2020 - the point is that a plan is what New York needs to really address this issue,” Smith said this morning.
Vickers said the focus should be on bumping up the milk production in New York State and making it easier for farmers to operate. Farmers already contend with a federal pricing system that is based on what he called “the ridiculous market pricing system of powdered milk and cheese.” Coupled with increasing costs for transportation, fuel and feed, fewer farmers can stay in business.
