Sorry Greg, the farmer is not getting the money. Just looked in the
regional farm newspaper ( Capital Press based in Oregon) and the dairy
farmers are getting $1.15 to $1.25 a gallon. There used to be 20 dairy
farmers in Snohomish County just north of Seattle, now there are 2. Why?
farming is no longer profitable, kids are no longer following in their
parents foot steps. The average age of the family farmer is nearing
retirement age.Those kids that want to farm can no longer afford the
land. Too many environmental laws and urban sprawl are taking care of
that. Unless you have been there , most people do not know that farming
,especially dairy farming can be pretty smelly. City slickers move to
the country and then complain that their neighbors are causing odors or
creating air pollution. Or just inconvenience the city slicker. Well
farming is a 24/7 business. lots of hard work and in many cases now
either the husband or the wife of a farm family work off the land to
help support the farm. Taxes are unbearable, the local government would
like you to divide your land up into 5 acre plots so some one can build
a huge house on it and they can get the revenue, so they tax you like
you have already done so. Locally 10 acres of land sells for $200,000
or more. So, support your local farmer if you can, tell your grocer you
would like local produce. If you would like in depth news of what it is
like to farm in the real world subscribe to the Capital Press or your
local farm newspaper and find out where your food really comes from.

Well, it is time to get down off my soap box, the hubby is sleeping in
this morning. We normally get up at 4AM and yes, he is the one who works
off of our small farm. During the summer he gets home at 3:00PM and puts
in another 5 hours of work. But today we will go to our local hometown
country fair and see what our neighbors kids are doing in 4H and FFA and
enjoy what rural living all about. Then we are off to the stock dog
trials to see real working dogs in action. Nothing is more awesome than
seeing a border collie working a herd of sheep. liz