Twenty Percent Of Vermont Dairy Farms At Risk
As many as 200 Vermont dairy farms are at risk of going out of business this spring and summer, according to a report published in the Burlington Free Press Saturday http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20100424/NEWS02/100424003/Up-to-200-Vermont-dairy-farms-could-fail-soon-state-says .
That would represent 20% of the state's 1,017 licensed dairy operations. Many of the farms have not been able to re-pay last year's seed, chemical and fertilizer bills, and dealers are reluctant to extend credit for this year.
Last Thursday, governors of nine northeastern states went a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting aid.