Small Town News

Boucher discusses importance of dairy industry in ND

---

Agriculture Commission candidate Merle Boucher held a press conference last Thursday outside the closed Winger Cheese Plant on Main Street in Towner. The focus of Boucher's press conference was to discuss value-added agriculture and the importance of maintaining strong family farms in North Dakota.

A few startling statistics highlighted by Boucher during Thursday's conference included the demise of a once thriving dairy industry in our state. He pointed out that our state lost 89% of its dairy farms between 1982 (3689 farms) and 2007 (402 farms). Today, that number is less than 180 dairy producing farms, a more than 50% decrease since 2007.

Another shocking statistic showed the decrease in cow number as well. In 1982, the state dairy cow herd numbered about 102,000 head. Today, the state's dairy cow herd is a little over 21,000 head, a decline of about 80%.

"This trend is both unique and alarming," stated Boucher. "It shows that the dairy industry is virtually disappearing in our state. This is a very serious matter for the benefit of dairy processing in North Dakota," he continued.

Boucher also pointed out that in the early 1980's, there were 28 dairy processing plants bottling milk, making ice cream, butter, cottage cheese, sour cream, and additional dairy products. This included the once fully functional Winger Cheese Plant in Towner, which closed its doors several years ago. Today, however, only four such dairy processing plants exist in the state of North Dakota.

The decrease in dairy farms, cow herds, and dairy processing plants go hand in hand, and all are cause for concern for the state of North Dakota. "North Dakota has long prided itself on being an independent and self-sufficient state," said Boucher. "The loss of this once thriving industry has serious effects for our economy, employment, tax base and population."

With the closing of the Winger Cheese in Towner, just one of several closed plants around the state, 37 full time employees were left without employment and over 100 producers who had been supplying milk to the plant needed to begin shipping elsewhere.

The financial loss that this decrease in dairy producers has meant for North Dakota is astonishing. "The total value of milk produced in North Dakota in 2009 was about $80 million. If you were to project the potential income for the number of cows in 1982, that would have been about $400 million. Imagine that amount rolled over in the local and state economy," said Boucher.

Boucher stated that he "Will not point fingers at who may or may not be responsible for this trend, as we are all responsible for the welfare of our state." He added that it is vital for North Dakotahs to take actions to turn around this current trend. "North Dakota has the population, space, and resources necessary for increasing and improving the situation within our communities," says Boucher.

Boucher finished by saying that he hopes his trip to Towner, as well as to several additional communities around the state, will help bring North Dakota's citizens an awareness of the decreasing dairy industry and work to bring changes for the benefit of our state.



Copyright 2010 Mouse River Journal, Towner, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2011 Mouse River Journal Towner, North Dakota. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

More from Mouse River Journal