Anchor Speaking
The New York Spring Dairy Carousel is in town until Sunday. NCC News’s Luc Sigaud went to the Fairgrounds to check it out.
Luc Sigaud Speaking
Dairy farmers from all over are pouring into Syracuse to talk shop and talk cows. Kim Ceresna thinks part of the reason why her industry struggles is a lack of government understanding.
Kim Ceresna Speaking
“I think that they really just need to find out our side of the story and, you know, be able to be educated about the things that we do on a daily basis.”
Luc Sigaud Speaking
Recent political and market factors have led to dairy farmers all over the country struggling. That means some are starting to lose sight of why these people are in the business.
Kim Ceresna Speaking
“I don’t think people realize the heart that goes into this industry, and, um, how hard we
work. I mean it isn’t just for a product, but it’s for our animals.”
(Standup) Luc Sigaud speaking
“Now plenty of people have been worried about the dairy farming industry in the United States but don’t tell that to these guys. Thousands of cattle on hand here today at the New York State Fairgrounds for the opening of the Spring Dairy Carousel.”
Luc Sigaud speaking
The last 5 years have been particularly rough for dairy farmers as production costs outpace the market price for a base unit of milk but there’s still hope for the industry. One veteran of the business even told me why he likes his cows so much. Another talked about his favorite part of the job.
Carter Ceresna speaking
“Her do good, her let me pet her, her let me milk her.”
Luc Sigaud speaking
“What’s your favorite part about being here?”
Caiden Ceresna speaking
“Uh, picking up the cow poop.”
Luc Sigaud, NCC News
By Luc Sigaud SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – The dairy industry may be struggling nationwide, but that has not stopped hundreds from coming to the New York State Fairgrounds for the 44th New York Spring Dairy Carousel. The event begins today and runs through Sunday with a culminating regional Holstein show.
On top of the pageantry, the event serves as an opportunity for dairy farmers across the country to talk about their industry in the face of severe economic adversity. Non-dairy options, such as soy or almond milk, are starting to command a bigger and bigger market share. This, combined with higher production costs and decreasing hundredweight commercial prices, spells trouble for the dairy industry.
1,600 dairy farms in New York State alone closed between 2006 and 2016, and this trend is not limited to just the Empire State. Reports suggest that over 46,000 dairy farms have closed around the nation this decade.
Despite this, Kim Ceresna is unafraid. As a manager of Rivendale Farms in Pittsburgh, she understands that the industry is in a valley right now. However, she says this is nothing new for her field. As a matter of fact, she’s gotten her two toddlers involved in Rivendale and is confident that her business, like the hundreds of others represented at this year’s Spring Carousel, will continue to prosper in the future.
