Minnesota farmers kick around big ideas to save small dairies

Apr 22, 20190

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Dairy farmers gathered at the Greenwald Pub in Greenwald, Minn., on Tuesday to discuss ideas for saving small dairies that are pressured by low prices for milk. The meeting, organized by the Wisconsin Farmers Union, drew dozens of farmers and staffers of Minnesota elected officials.

Greenwald, Minn. – David Van Drehle, a dairy farmer 35 miles west of St. Cloud, took $11,000 out of savings to balance the books in 2018, and he doesn't see how the business will get any better.

"I made a nice living on 50 cows until three years ago. It's getting worse every year," Van Drehle said. "We've got a son graduating from high school this year. He wants to farm. She tells him not to."

http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-farmers-kick-around-big-ideas-to-save-small-dairies/508878722/