Massachusetts dairy producers are the latest in the industry to unite and try to affect change in their milk prices. A decision on the state’s hearings should be available by the end of the month.
With Massachusetts’ dairy farmers going out of business because of high production costs and stagnant revenue, Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s administration slated special hearings this week and next to decide whether the state needs to take action that could include setting the wholesale and retail price of milk.
The hearings are “part of an investigation as to whether the milk price to the producer can be maintained to insure an adequate supply of fresh milk,” said acting Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Scott J. Soares at the start of yesterday’s meeting, held at the University of Massachusetts.
In November the Telegram & Gazette reported the price of milk paid to farmers had been nearly flat, increasing from an average of $1.30 per gallon in 1983 to $1.49 per gallon in 2005, while the amount consumers pay at the store increased from an average of $1.78 per gallon to $3.28 per gallon in the same period.