Unfortunately, our state's dairy industry is facing dire financial conditions, as federally set milk prices have dropped 25% while at the same time fuel, fertilizer, and energy costs have increased due to the Trump administration’s tariffs and war in Iran.

To help sustain these vital local operations, we are allocating $22.5 million from Connecticut’s Federal Cuts Response Fund to provide immediate relief to the approximately 80 dairy farmers in the state.

These resources will be used by the state Department of Agriculture to help stabilize Connecticut’s dairy industry through a comprehensive holistic approach. This includes direct farm subsidies, reimbursement for enrollment in the USDA Farm Service Agency’s Dairy Margin Coverage program, as well as additional assistance measures. 

 

The need for this help stems from recent federal actions that have placed many of these family-run farms under severe financial strain.

Specifically, the problem has been caused by a federally set milk pricing structures that favor large corporate operations over smaller Connecticut dairies as well as tariff policies that have increased the cost of essential supplies such as fertilizer and farm equipment. In addition, the U.S. conflict with Iran has significantly driven up all fuel costs, further hurting farmers who already operate on narrow profit margins.

Read more about state assistance for Connecticut's dairy farmers in this article from CT NewsJunkie 

Remember – NO FARMS NO FOOD!