The Weiss Centennial Farm has been in existence since 1853. Throughout its time, the farm has seen its fair share of neighboring farms.
But according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michigan has lost 700 dairy operations in the last five years.
Roger and Joan Marie Weiss are fifth-generation owners of the Frankenmuth dairy farm. Roger says when he was growing up there were many dairy farms within a three-mile radius. Currently, he’s the only farmer in the area.
The Weiss’ tells Mid-Michigan NOW that they’ve seen a rapid decrease of dairy farms over the last decade due to the strenuous workload.
Roger says operating a dairy farm is an around-the-clock job and can be very expensive. He says with costs of products increasing, it doesn’t make working any easier.
But although the cost of running the farm may have risen, Roger’s wife, Joan Marie tells us they are finding creative ways to stay afloat like offering agricultural tourism.
Phil Durst is a senior extension educator with Michigan State University and specializes in dairy and beef cattle production. He says this decrease in dairy farms are due to several things, one specifically being generational transfer, advising that kids don’t want to farm and may want to pursue other careers.
But Durst offers a little solace for dairy farmers advising that although Michigan is losing dairy farms, the cow population continues to grow. He says that buyers have nothing to worry about when it comes to the supply of milk.
Source: nbc25news.com
