Re: dairy farm in PA can't keep up with demand!

[Guest guest]

I'm $8/gallon too for cow and goat but folks dont complain. It is only a buck and a half more then the organic valley pasturized milk and about $4 less then the meyerberg garbage. Prices for goat will be going up a buck in the spring:o( Aliza Re: dairy farm in PA can't keep up with demand! Posted by: "robie@..." robie@... rem700sa Fri Jan 4, 2008 6:11 am (PST) We're 8$/gallon and folks complain. They can get up with me andmilk. robie www.bluestemfarms. com<http://www.bluestem farms.com>

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[Guest guest]

I get $1.50 a dozen for free range but not organic eggs and some folks

complain.

Belinda

> > >

> > > $15 a gallon?!!?!??!!! that's insane!!! I wouldn't

> > be able to afford raw milk at that price either!

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them

> > fast with Yahoo! Search.

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

[Guest guest]

I get $1.50 a dozen for free range but not organic eggs and some folks

complain.

Belinda

> > >

> > > $15 a gallon?!!?!??!!! that's insane!!! I wouldn't

> > be able to afford raw milk at that price either!

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ---------------------------------

> > Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them

> > fast with Yahoo! Search.

>

>

>

>

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

> Be a better friend, newshound, and

> know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

>

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I am sorry if i've offended anyone:( but with prices being so high on

EVERYTHING now days i feel " raped " daily!not by the little guys like

all ofm you.its the big corperate companies and the greedy gov.! Im

remember when i was young things were alot different(and cheaper)!(I

am 38)people(like us)were NOT loosing their houses(LIKE US)because

they had to choose between getting to work and paying their mortage

(LIKE US)

things are soooo inflated!we COULD afford our house when we bought it

it 5 yrs ago(and i was nursing 2 children,not working)now we cant

keep our heads above water and soon we will lose our home.So with

that being said,I do belive the farmers(like you)deserve what you

make on your milk and whatever else you sell but you would'nt need to

charge so much if things were'nt so inflated in the first place by

the greedy ass's in office! Bless you all for sticking with it!It is

a VERY hard job doing what you all do!

In reguards to the milk question: the milk i get is raw organic milk

they are a very small company(25-30 cows)they have a contract w/a

company who comes and takes their milk every other day(along with

testing it of course)the facilities are VERY clean and they work very

hard!husband does all the farming himself(w/the occasional help from

the amish boy down the road)he has no other job! they tell me they

are happy to have my tax free $20(i get 10 gal at a time and i

try to throw them some extra $ if i can.

as far as eggs go,i get them (all organic)for 1.25 a dozen and that

not on the same farm that i get the milk from,so it is quite a busy

life trying to keep my children in healthy food,free from the fda

label.

blessings to you all!

and sorry for offending anyone!Jen

>

> Hi All,

> Just wanted to get some feedback on this. I suppose I just need to

do a

> little venting on the subject. My favorite dairy farm, that I

> originally bought my first real milk from, cannot produce enough

milk to

> keep up with the demand. It's a small farm with jersey cows and

the

> most delicious milk of any I've tried. The butterfat content is

amazing

> and they are fed an excellent diet, which shows in the milk. So,

> naturally, I want their milk! They have a list of original

customers

> that the milk of the day goes to first and then it's first come,

first

> serve. I used to have no problem getting 4-5 jugs, since I'm not

on

> that list, but now, there is little chance. As I see others stroll

in

> the door that are on the coveted list, my skin starts to crawl;-)

> Personally, since demand is so high, I think the list should be

> abolished, so it's fair to all of it's customers. What do you all

> think? In the meantime, I have to drive 2 hours to the other farm

> (that also has high quality milk, yet is so far away), and wait

until

> the real milk bill passes in NJ, sigh;-)

> Happy New Year!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I am sorry if i've offended anyone:( but with prices being so high on

EVERYTHING now days i feel " raped " daily!not by the little guys like

all ofm you.its the big corperate companies and the greedy gov.! Im

remember when i was young things were alot different(and cheaper)!(I

am 38)people(like us)were NOT loosing their houses(LIKE US)because

they had to choose between getting to work and paying their mortage

(LIKE US)

things are soooo inflated!we COULD afford our house when we bought it

it 5 yrs ago(and i was nursing 2 children,not working)now we cant

keep our heads above water and soon we will lose our home.So with

that being said,I do belive the farmers(like you)deserve what you

make on your milk and whatever else you sell but you would'nt need to

charge so much if things were'nt so inflated in the first place by

the greedy ass's in office! Bless you all for sticking with it!It is

a VERY hard job doing what you all do!

In reguards to the milk question: the milk i get is raw organic milk

they are a very small company(25-30 cows)they have a contract w/a

company who comes and takes their milk every other day(along with

testing it of course)the facilities are VERY clean and they work very

hard!husband does all the farming himself(w/the occasional help from

the amish boy down the road)he has no other job! they tell me they

are happy to have my tax free $20(i get 10 gal at a time and i

try to throw them some extra $ if i can.

as far as eggs go,i get them (all organic)for 1.25 a dozen and that

not on the same farm that i get the milk from,so it is quite a busy

life trying to keep my children in healthy food,free from the fda

label.

blessings to you all!

and sorry for offending anyone!Jen

>

> Hi All,

> Just wanted to get some feedback on this. I suppose I just need to

do a

> little venting on the subject. My favorite dairy farm, that I

> originally bought my first real milk from, cannot produce enough

milk to

> keep up with the demand. It's a small farm with jersey cows and

the

> most delicious milk of any I've tried. The butterfat content is

amazing

> and they are fed an excellent diet, which shows in the milk. So,

> naturally, I want their milk! They have a list of original

customers

> that the milk of the day goes to first and then it's first come,

first

> serve. I used to have no problem getting 4-5 jugs, since I'm not

on

> that list, but now, there is little chance. As I see others stroll

in

> the door that are on the coveted list, my skin starts to crawl;-)

> Personally, since demand is so high, I think the list should be

> abolished, so it's fair to all of it's customers. What do you all

> think? In the meantime, I have to drive 2 hours to the other farm

> (that also has high quality milk, yet is so far away), and wait

until

> the real milk bill passes in NJ, sigh;-)

> Happy New Year!

>

[Guest guest]

Two bucks a gallon for raw organic milk? A buck and a quarter a dozen

for organic free range eggs? The only one I see getting raped here is

the farmer.

Bob

>

> Hi All,

> I am sorry if i've offended anyone:( but with prices being so high on

> EVERYTHING now days i feel " raped " daily!not by the little guys like

> all ofm you.its the big corperate companies and the greedy gov.! Im

> remember when i was young things were alot different(and cheaper)!(I

> am 38)people(like us)were NOT loosing their houses(LIKE US)because

> they had to choose between getting to work and paying their mortage

> (LIKE US)

> things are soooo inflated!we COULD afford our house when we bought it

> it 5 yrs ago(and i was nursing 2 children,not working)now we cant

> keep our heads above water and soon we will lose our home.So with

> that being said,I do belive the farmers(like you)deserve what you

> make on your milk and whatever else you sell but you would'nt need to

> charge so much if things were'nt so inflated in the first place by

> the greedy ass's in office! Bless you all for sticking with it!It is

> a VERY hard job doing what you all do!

> In reguards to the milk question: the milk i get is raw organic milk

> they are a very small company(25-30 cows)they have a contract w/a

> company who comes and takes their milk every other day(along with

> testing it of course)the facilities are VERY clean and they work very

> hard!husband does all the farming himself(w/the occasional help from

> the amish boy down the road)he has no other job! they tell me they

> are happy to have my tax free $20(i get 10 gal at a time and i

> try to throw them some extra $ if i can.

> as far as eggs go,i get them (all organic)for 1.25 a dozen and that

> not on the same farm that i get the milk from,so it is quite a busy

> life trying to keep my children in healthy food,free from the fda

> label.

> blessings to you all!

> and sorry for offending anyone!Jen

[Guest guest]

Two bucks a gallon for raw organic milk? A buck and a quarter a dozen

for organic free range eggs? The only one I see getting raped here is

the farmer.

Bob

>

> Hi All,

> I am sorry if i've offended anyone:( but with prices being so high on

> EVERYTHING now days i feel " raped " daily!not by the little guys like

> all ofm you.its the big corperate companies and the greedy gov.! Im

> remember when i was young things were alot different(and cheaper)!(I

> am 38)people(like us)were NOT loosing their houses(LIKE US)because

> they had to choose between getting to work and paying their mortage

> (LIKE US)

> things are soooo inflated!we COULD afford our house when we bought it

> it 5 yrs ago(and i was nursing 2 children,not working)now we cant

> keep our heads above water and soon we will lose our home.So with

> that being said,I do belive the farmers(like you)deserve what you

> make on your milk and whatever else you sell but you would'nt need to

> charge so much if things were'nt so inflated in the first place by

> the greedy ass's in office! Bless you all for sticking with it!It is

> a VERY hard job doing what you all do!

> In reguards to the milk question: the milk i get is raw organic milk

> they are a very small company(25-30 cows)they have a contract w/a

> company who comes and takes their milk every other day(along with

> testing it of course)the facilities are VERY clean and they work very

> hard!husband does all the farming himself(w/the occasional help from

> the amish boy down the road)he has no other job! they tell me they

> are happy to have my tax free $20(i get 10 gal at a time and i

> try to throw them some extra $ if i can.

> as far as eggs go,i get them (all organic)for 1.25 a dozen and that

> not on the same farm that i get the milk from,so it is quite a busy

> life trying to keep my children in healthy food,free from the fda

> label.

> blessings to you all!

> and sorry for offending anyone!Jen

[Guest guest]

Hi All,Iam very interested as to why people are paying $10-$15 for a

gallon of water?never heard of such a thing?

blessings<Jen

>

> Hi All,

> Just wanted to get some feedback on this. I suppose I just need to

do a

> little venting on the subject. My favorite dairy farm, that I

> originally bought my first real milk from, cannot produce enough

milk to

> keep up with the demand. It's a small farm with jersey cows and

the

> most delicious milk of any I've tried. The butterfat content is

amazing

> and they are fed an excellent diet, which shows in the milk. So,

> naturally, I want their milk! They have a list of original

customers

> that the milk of the day goes to first and then it's first come,

first

> serve. I used to have no problem getting 4-5 jugs, since I'm not

on

> that list, but now, there is little chance. As I see others stroll

in

> the door that are on the coveted list, my skin starts to crawl;-)

> Personally, since demand is so high, I think the list should be

> abolished, so it's fair to all of it's customers. What do you all

> think? In the meantime, I have to drive 2 hours to the other farm

> (that also has high quality milk, yet is so far away), and wait

until

> the real milk bill passes in NJ, sigh;-)

> Happy New Year!

>

[Guest guest]

How much would someone have to pay you to go out when it is 40 > degrees and raining and spend a couple hours milking? 40*??? That's T-shirt weather!!! And rain? I laugh at the rain! (Sarcastic.. hahahahaha!!) I'm a goat milker in the mountains of NC! 10* and 35mph winds blowing up my butt!! I can only milk one girl at a time and back when I freshened 25 does it would take me 3 hours to milk them... TWICE a day. Until the last doe freshened somebody would inevitably shoot out another two or three kids that I had to stop and take care of halfway through lengthening the process. After a couple of years I got a machine but the power often goes out and milking by hand takes a lot longer. Add to the equation all the other things that have to be done with the animals and you've got one heck of a full day. These things

do make a girl cranky! Anybody who sells milk for $2 a gallon is shooting himself in the foot. To those people who are completely clueless as to what it takes to produce that glass of milk you're holding I recommend you show up at your local supplier's house one morning about 4am and help with that day's chores. By the time you get home, say sometime after 9pm (unless it's kidding season which means you're on call 24 hrs), you'll have a whole new perspective on things. The only cosmetics around here are made by Suave or Carmex!! Long live the farmers! Sherry n NC

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

How much would someone have to pay you to go out when it is 40 > degrees and raining and spend a couple hours milking? 40*??? That's T-shirt weather!!! And rain? I laugh at the rain! (Sarcastic.. hahahahaha!!) I'm a goat milker in the mountains of NC! 10* and 35mph winds blowing up my butt!! I can only milk one girl at a time and back when I freshened 25 does it would take me 3 hours to milk them... TWICE a day. Until the last doe freshened somebody would inevitably shoot out another two or three kids that I had to stop and take care of halfway through lengthening the process. After a couple of years I got a machine but the power often goes out and milking by hand takes a lot longer. Add to the equation all the other things that have to be done with the animals and you've got one heck of a full day. These things

do make a girl cranky! Anybody who sells milk for $2 a gallon is shooting himself in the foot. To those people who are completely clueless as to what it takes to produce that glass of milk you're holding I recommend you show up at your local supplier's house one morning about 4am and help with that day's chores. By the time you get home, say sometime after 9pm (unless it's kidding season which means you're on call 24 hrs), you'll have a whole new perspective on things. The only cosmetics around here are made by Suave or Carmex!! Long live the farmers! Sherry n NC

Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

[Guest guest]

Bottled water usage is increcible. People pick up a 12-16 oz plastic

bottle of water all the time andpay 1.20-1.50 for it.]

Look around and see the folks that are drinking this, and contributing

to the volumous water bottle pollution. Went to a " peak oil " meeting

some months ago w/ a friend, and Lo and Behold, everyone EXCEPT us was

clutching a bottle of water. Where do they think those bottles come

from?

[Guest guest]

Bottled water usage is increcible. People pick up a 12-16 oz plastic

bottle of water all the time andpay 1.20-1.50 for it.]

Look around and see the folks that are drinking this, and contributing

to the volumous water bottle pollution. Went to a " peak oil " meeting

some months ago w/ a friend, and Lo and Behold, everyone EXCEPT us was

clutching a bottle of water. Where do they think those bottles come

from?

[Guest guest]

Sherry, those folks wouldn't even think about going out in 10

degrees w/ windchill down to -5

The insurance adjuster was supposed to come out this past wednesday.

Cancelled becasue of the weather. Me and my kids are out there with

NO running water, milking w/ no windbreask, hauling water, and he

can't handle it.

Hay man suggested a hoop house. Might check into it. he said you can

get them real reasonable and they do well. Although my wind here

might nt work w/ it.

>

> How much would someone have to pay you to go out when it is 40

> > degrees and raining and spend a couple hours milking?

>

>

> 40*??? That's T-shirt weather!!! And rSheerain? I laugh at

the rain! (Sarcastic.. hahahahaha!!) I'm a goat milker in the

mountains of NC! 10* and 35mph winds blowing up my butt!! I can

only milk one girl at a time and back when I freshened 25 does it

would take me 3 hours to milk them... TWICE a day. Until the last

doe freshened somebody would inevitably shoot out another two or

three kids that I had to stop and take care of halfway through

lengthening the process. After a couple of years I got a machine

but the power often goes out and milking by hand takes a lot

longer. Add to the equation all the other things that have to be

done with the animals and you've got one heck of a full day. These

things do make a girl cranky! Anybody who sells milk for $2 a

gallon is shooting himself in the foot. To those people who are

completely clueless as to what it takes to produce that glass of

milk you're holding I recommend you show up at your local supplier's

house one

> morning about 4am and help with that day's chores. By the time

you get home, say sometime after 9pm (unless it's kidding season

which means you're on call 24 hrs), you'll have a whole new

perspective on things.

>

> The only cosmetics around here are made by Suave or Carmex!!

Long live the farmers!

>

> Sherry

> n NC

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo!

Mobile. Try it now.

>

[Guest guest]

Sherry, those folks wouldn't even think about going out in 10

degrees w/ windchill down to -5

The insurance adjuster was supposed to come out this past wednesday.

Cancelled becasue of the weather. Me and my kids are out there with

NO running water, milking w/ no windbreask, hauling water, and he

can't handle it.

Hay man suggested a hoop house. Might check into it. he said you can

get them real reasonable and they do well. Although my wind here

might nt work w/ it.

>

> How much would someone have to pay you to go out when it is 40

> > degrees and raining and spend a couple hours milking?

>

>

> 40*??? That's T-shirt weather!!! And rSheerain? I laugh at

the rain! (Sarcastic.. hahahahaha!!) I'm a goat milker in the

mountains of NC! 10* and 35mph winds blowing up my butt!! I can

only milk one girl at a time and back when I freshened 25 does it

would take me 3 hours to milk them... TWICE a day. Until the last

doe freshened somebody would inevitably shoot out another two or

three kids that I had to stop and take care of halfway through

lengthening the process. After a couple of years I got a machine

but the power often goes out and milking by hand takes a lot

longer. Add to the equation all the other things that have to be

done with the animals and you've got one heck of a full day. These

things do make a girl cranky! Anybody who sells milk for $2 a

gallon is shooting himself in the foot. To those people who are

completely clueless as to what it takes to produce that glass of

milk you're holding I recommend you show up at your local supplier's

house one

> morning about 4am and help with that day's chores. By the time

you get home, say sometime after 9pm (unless it's kidding season

which means you're on call 24 hrs), you'll have a whole new

perspective on things.

>

> The only cosmetics around here are made by Suave or Carmex!!

Long live the farmers!

>

> Sherry

> n NC

>

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo!

Mobile. Try it now.

>

[Guest guest]

Bottled water usage is increcible. People pick up a 12-16 oz plastic

bottle of water all the time andpay 1.20-1.50 for it.]

Look around and see the folks that are drinking this, and contributing

to the volumous water bottle pollution. Went to a " peak oil " meeting

some months ago w/ a friend, and Lo and Behold, everyone EXCEPT us was

clutching a bottle of water. Where do they think those bottles come

from?

[Guest guest]

Teri-lee, but that's your personal income and choices that end with

you spending that much. Different people make different incomes and

different choices. The fact you personally spend more doesn't negate

the fact that the average american is spending LESS of their income

on food than ever. American food is cheaper than it's ever been.>>

As far as the government goes, they say that for my income and family

size I am 175% federal poverty guidelines. Yes- your right, it is my

choice. I CHOOSE not to poison my children with food that I know is

not good for them.We go without a lot of things like vacations and

cool toys and that is ok because I know that I am doing what is best

for their health. I make it work, I buy extra when items are on sale,

cut coupons, support my local farmers, going to join a buying club

this month etc. all when my friends and neighbors are running to the

Dr. every other week putting their kids on harmful meds. My youngest

is 3 1/2 and has never been on an antibiotic - now if that doesn't

speak volumes in itself.

Like I said from the beginning - those are just numbers and I dont

consider myself the " average American " .I am an informed American who

knows better not to consume the food they say is " safe " .

I wonder why cancer is at an all time high too.... gee I wonder.

Teri

[Guest guest]

It is sad that people aren't willing to pay for real food when we

realize that real food would keep them real healthy. Even sadder is

the fact the most women spend more time looking for a new pair of

shoes or new dress than they do looking for healthy food.

Belinda

>

> Teri-lee, but that's your personal income and choices that end with

> you spending that much. Different people make different incomes and

> different choices. The fact you personally spend more doesn't negate

> the fact that the average american is spending LESS of their income

> on food than ever. American food is cheaper than it's ever been.

>

[Guest guest]

I don't have children but it seems that if you are too busy to eat

then something needs to be done, folks need to slow down a bit.

Just my two cents

Belinda

> Then I wonder how many in that so called survey are sitting in the

> drive through at Mcs how many times a week? I have a number of

> friends who eat at fast food restaurants more times each week than at

> home because both parents work full time and they need to get their

> kids to activities so there is no time to cook a decent meal.

[Guest guest]

I have been following this thread with alot of interest. We have dairy goats, 35 of them. It costs me $3,000 a year for good organic hay. (we only feed hay when the grass and fields are frozen.) It costs me $285 a month for my grain mix. Which excludes soy and corn. I live in PA. Truthfully If someone would offer me $2 a gallon for my goat milk, I would dump it in the field for fertilizer, before selling it for that price ! I have a lady who buys for her kennel dogs for $8 a gallon. Three more dairys in our area sold out their cows this year. It is sad, I work in town, and these people are so "out of it". I can't believe how STUPID they act. They follow the gov't advice like it's from the mouth of God. No one thinks for themselves. They are so wrapped up in "shopping" at the malls and talking on their "phones". They look at us farmers like we are some dirty germ they need to

clean up. How sad,, If they only knew that the meat and stuff they buy in the market are worse than any germ or poison. That, with each bite it is killing them slowly. I will stick with my raw foods,, sleep with my baby goats, and stink of manure. I will feed my little steer and piglets with my extra raw goats milk and will endure the looks of distain, and disgust. Knowing that at least MY children have learned that money and things, don't matter. That health and happiness go together. OK off the soap box....(smile) in PA

Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Guest guest]

Aman sister another words you farm for the glory of it.

Russ

Re: dairy farm in PA can't keep up with demand!

I have been following this thread with alot of interest. We have dairy goats, 35 of them. It costs me $3,000 a year for good organic hay. (we only feed hay when the grass and fields are frozen.) It costs me $285 a month for my grain mix. Which excludes soy and corn. I live in PA. Truthfully If someone would offer me $2 a gallon for my goat milk, I would dump it in the field for fertilizer, before selling it for that price ! I have a lady who buys for her kennel dogs for $8 a gallon. Three more dairys in our area sold out their cows this year. It is sad, I work in town, and these people are so "out of it". I can't believe how STUPID they act. They follow the gov't advice like it's from the mouth of God. No one thinks for themselves. They are so wrapped up in "shopping" at the malls and talking on their "phones". They look at us farmers like we are some dirty germ they need to clean up. How sad,, If they only knew that the meat and stuff they buy in the market are worse than any germ or poison. That, with each bite it is killing them slowly. I will stick with my raw foods,, sleep with my baby goats, and stink of manure. I will feed my little steer and piglets with my extra raw goats milk and will endure the looks of distain, and disgust. Knowing that at least MY children have learned that money and things, don't matter. That health and happiness go together. OK off the soap box....(smile) in PA

Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Guest guest]

Rape?????????

Wow, that's the first time I've ever heard that term used to

describe dairy farmers trying to make a living doing a hard 24-7

job. If you want to fling accusations, start with the oil industry.

Your comment that gas is " only " $3/gal. should explain the whole

equation to you. Do you have any idea how much fuel it takes to

produce the feed that keeps dairy animals producing the milk you

drink??? Our hay and grain prices have risen in direct proportion to

the hikes in gas prices, and at $10 a gallon for milk we're probably

paying ourselves about a dollar an hour apiece for our work. Every

milk dollar goes into the feed account, and I'm pretty happy about

it if I can buy all my year's feed and have some left over to invest

back into the herd, or new fencing, or a new goat shed.

Every single time I go to the feed store there's been a price hike,

and the 50-lb. sack of feed that cost $10 a couple of years ago is

now up over $15, the hay I got for $5-$6 a bale in '04 cost me $8

in '06 and $9 in '07. I didn't accuse my hay farmer of rape, I know

what it cost him in fuel to fertilize, cut, bale, & transport that

hay. So I just swallowed hard, paid for my hay, and told my herd

share customers milk was going from $8/gal. to $10 (in'06). They

understood, and I trust they'll understand again this spring when I

tell them that the '08 price will be $11/gal.

Get back to us in about a year and tell us how your $2/gal. farmer

is doing. My bet -- he'll either have raised his prices or be out of

business, because unless someone is giving him all his gas & feed

for free he's probably operating at a loss.

Suzy in AK

Raising registered Alpine dairy goats in the frozen north

>

> Hi everyone! after reading all these posts on how much raw milk

sells

> for,boy oh boy am i glad i found the organic farm i have...i only

> pay$2 a gallon...i live in Pa and found my source in

sherman,Ny...$15

> a gal.???? ...i am sorry but $15 for milk? thats just plain rape!

even

> gas is only$3 a gal...how do people justify charging $15 a gal??

> anyone needing a source for$2 a gal PLEASE let me know..i really

> feel bad for anyone paying that outrageous amount.

> peace & blessings,Jen

>

>

[Guest guest]

Rape?????????

Wow, that's the first time I've ever heard that term used to

describe dairy farmers trying to make a living doing a hard 24-7

job. If you want to fling accusations, start with the oil industry.

Your comment that gas is " only " $3/gal. should explain the whole

equation to you. Do you have any idea how much fuel it takes to

produce the feed that keeps dairy animals producing the milk you

drink??? Our hay and grain prices have risen in direct proportion to

the hikes in gas prices, and at $10 a gallon for milk we're probably

paying ourselves about a dollar an hour apiece for our work. Every

milk dollar goes into the feed account, and I'm pretty happy about

it if I can buy all my year's feed and have some left over to invest

back into the herd, or new fencing, or a new goat shed.

Every single time I go to the feed store there's been a price hike,

and the 50-lb. sack of feed that cost $10 a couple of years ago is

now up over $15, the hay I got for $5-$6 a bale in '04 cost me $8

in '06 and $9 in '07. I didn't accuse my hay farmer of rape, I know

what it cost him in fuel to fertilize, cut, bale, & transport that

hay. So I just swallowed hard, paid for my hay, and told my herd

share customers milk was going from $8/gal. to $10 (in'06). They

understood, and I trust they'll understand again this spring when I

tell them that the '08 price will be $11/gal.

Get back to us in about a year and tell us how your $2/gal. farmer

is doing. My bet -- he'll either have raised his prices or be out of

business, because unless someone is giving him all his gas & feed

for free he's probably operating at a loss.

Suzy in AK

Raising registered Alpine dairy goats in the frozen north

>

> Hi everyone! after reading all these posts on how much raw milk

sells

> for,boy oh boy am i glad i found the organic farm i have...i only

> pay$2 a gallon...i live in Pa and found my source in

sherman,Ny...$15

> a gal.???? ...i am sorry but $15 for milk? thats just plain rape!

even

> gas is only$3 a gal...how do people justify charging $15 a gal??

> anyone needing a source for$2 a gal PLEASE let me know..i really

> feel bad for anyone paying that outrageous amount.

> peace & blessings,Jen

>

>

[Guest guest]

You are right, we all make our own choices. While I don't have

children I have managed to care for a few that belonged to others. For

a while, in what feels like another life, I had a job that had me on

the run Mon-Thur from 8am-8:30pm, Friday's from 8-3. If I'd ever

suggested that we go out to eat the ex would have had a fit. My method

for survival was to make big meals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Monday we ate Friday's leftovers, Tues was from Sat, Wed was from

Sunday and Thursday finished them all off. Sure I might have had to

add some veggies or boil a potato but basically it was leftovers.

The other thing, when talking about the time spent cooking or

shopping, mention that the time spent in dr's offices will surely

lessen when they begin to eat right!

Belinda

>

> Belinda, you know, that's another point to this that I hadn't thought

> much about. People not only want their food cheap, they want to buy

> it fast and easy. Not just convenience foods -- food obtained

> conveniently. We're used to going into the supermarket, finding

> everything we need (and being irritated if they're out of something)

> loading up our carts, stopping at a register -- and god forbid

> there's a line and we have to wait to check out, then we're pissed --

> and being home putting stuff away an hour after we pulled into the

> supermarket parking lot. And much of the food purchased can be

> prepared with minimal effort -- it's already halfway prepared for us.

>

> At the farmers market, which for most people will be further away

> than the supermarket, we have to look at all the vendors. Some may

> have one or two things we want, some others. Sometimes we have to

> make a change in plan on the fly -- there's no spinach, but there's

> kale. Some of the things we were hoping to find my be in short

> supply or not there at all and we won't get any. We have to pay

> several different vendors and sometimes make a few trips to the car.

> Much of the food we bring home still needs at least a bit of thought

> and work to turn into an actual meal. It's a time-consuming way to

> feed ourselves, especially if we've gotten used to doing it the other

> way and our meal-planning skills are rusty.

>

> A lot of folks say they don't have time to shop this way. But as you

> point out, a lot of those same folks are probably spending hours at

> the mall shopping for other things.

>

> That's these folks' choice. I'm not judging; to each his own. Every

> one of us has to decide for ourselves what is important to us. We

> all have busy lives in our own ways. But next time I hear someone

> whining that they'd love to feed their family like I feed mine but

> don't have the time to shop or cook real food, I'll see if I can't

> find some way to open the subject of what other time-consuming

> shopping they do.

>

> Val

>

[Guest guest]

The way I have it figured is that it should take about 3 dozen eggs

to pay for a sack of feed. At that rate the chickens pay for their

feed, kick in for the electricity to keep their coop warm & lit, &

keep us in eggs (2-3 doz./wk). So in '04 when feed cost $9 - $10 a

sack I charged $3.00 a dozen. Feed was up to $12-$13 a sack by '06 & I

charged $4.00 a dozen. Now, thanks to ethanol hiking up the price of

corn and $3.00/gal. gas hiking up everything else, I'm about to go to

$5.00 a dozen to pay for feed that has gone up to $15-$16 for a 50-lb.

sack. It sounds pretty shocking, but I do know that people in town

(Anchorage) are already currently spending $6.00 for a dozen eggs at

weekly farmers' markets, and eggs sell out early in the day -- yet

another example of the growing number of consumers who are willing to

pay more for fresher, locally grown food. Which up here is a plenty

of a challenge for both producers and consumers!

Suzy in AK

.. What is everyone paying for eggs???

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Wow! When I went from $1 to $1.25 last spring I lost a bunch of

customers. The ones who stayed will understand the jump to $1.50 and

stick with me. I don't break even on eggs, I make my money selling

roosters and chicks. Chicks for $1 at a day old make my dozen worth

$12. Incubator doesn't cost that much to run and it's full from now to

sometime in May or June, holds 18 dozen.

Around here there is a feeling that my products should be cheaper than

WalMart. Don't know how it's figured but that's what I hear, " I can

get that for .... at WalMart. " Will admit to mumbling (and sometimes

loudly) about Chinese poisons available at WalMart but not at my

market table. <G> Ah well...season starts in March and I'm in a mood

already.

Belinda

>

> . What is everyone paying for eggs???

> >

> >

> >

> >

>