Date: Fri 06-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

business-Schmidle-dairy

Full Text:

The Important Business Of Cows And Compacts

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Newtown resident Mae Schmidle was elected vice-chairman of the Northeast

Interstate Dairy Compact at its first official meeting November 21 in Concord,

N.H.

Also serving on the compact is Newtown resident Shirley Ferris, the state's

commissioner of agriculture.

According to Mrs Schmidle, a former state representative, the Dairy Compact

was established by the New England states and the United States Congress to

assure the continued viability of dairy farming in the Northeast. Looking to

stabilize milk prices, the compact is responding to the struggles of dairy

farmers under the current federal pricing system, whose erratic trend has made

it difficult for farmers to develop business plans for their farm operations.

Milk prices, she said, have declined five percent in real dollars (unadjusted

for inflation) since 1985. Since then, 40 percent of New England's dairy farms

have ceased operation.

"Folks around town call it my cow commission," Mrs Schmidle joked.

But, as she points out, the work of the compact is serious business.

Mrs Schmidle, appointed to the board in late spring by Gov John Rowland, said

the erratic milk prices have paved the way for the midwest milk market to make

a push into the area. Most if not all milk consumed in Newtown is from New

England, but that all could change, Mrs Schmidle said.

Large supermarkets like Super Stop & Shop are able to pick and choose in order

to get the best deal they can, creating a huge market battle among farmers,

according to Mrs Schmidle.

"There's a fallout. If we're not using New England milk in New England, then

you have to wonder about the New England dairy farmers and all the land, which

currently serves as open space," said Mrs Schmidle, who served for two terms

on the state's Environment Committee while a state representative for the

106th District during the 1980s.

The Northeast Compact does have the authority to stabilize pricing, but not

until after holding a series of hearing, including its first, which will be

held in December 17 in White River Junction, Vermont.

Midwest farmers are not happy with the formation of the compact and have

already taken it to court.