Why is it that Dairy Farmers are always under the microscope? Isn't it time to stop treating dairy farmers like minions and actually give them the respect that is due to them? The general public will need a wake up call and I fear it's going to come soon, and then what will happen.
If it is not one thing, it is another that the Dairy Farmers of the United States are having issues with. Now I'm not saying that these scrutinizations haven't helped to improve the dairy industry, but it seems as though, the dairy industry can never be out of the negative spotlight.
First came the "Mad Cow" issue and the beef boycotts. European countries have had Mad Cow and Hoof and Mouth disease long before the United States, but one outbreak and the dairy industry is in shambles. But being optimistic, as I am, in every bad situation there is good. Because of the outbreak, stricter feeding regulations have been put in place, as well as, stricter importing of cattle. Dairy Farmers are also restricted in the condition of the animals that they can send to slaughter. Ultimately making our food system safer.
Then there's the issue with environmental pollutions and neighbor relations. Dairy Farmers are constantly being blamed for the foul odors that neighborhood smells come spring and fall. Additionally, they have so many hoops to jump through with environmental issues. Any time there is a small manure spill or anything that could possibly contaminate any public water sources, Dairy Farmers make national news.
And who can forget the controversy over BST or BST free. Dairy Farmers have all different opinions about whether it's good or not. The biggest problem with this is what the consumers believe is the best is dictating what milk cooperatives want. Misconceptions on the consumer level is influencing what happens to the dairy industry. This means that the dairy industry doesn't truly have a say upon their own business.
Then there is the animal welfare kick. How dairy farmers only abuse their animals and house them in unsafe conditions. Now dairy farms need to be certified that they don't abuse their animals and that they have adequate space provided. Dairy Farmers know that they make their money from their cows. Cows are the "Foster Mothers of the Human Race", they aren't going to abuse their mothers, so they aren't going to abuse their "Foster Mothers."
Lastly, the argument over hiring Hispanic Workers as labor force, is a big topic and never ending one for discussion. Most community members argue that by farms employing Hispanic workers, that lowers the need for community employee's. With the unemployment rate so high, nationalists argue that by hiring foreign labor at cheaper wages it is taking away for the possible jobs of those unemployed. But the dairy industry has found that the foreign workers want to work and will work until the job is done, whereas, some people just don't feel the need to work.
My point is... no matter the situation, no matter the controversy, Dairy Farmers seem to be the ones at fault and are the one's having to change their ways. This is because dairy farmers are too busy working with the cows or working their fields to be able to fight for their own rights. My question for you... is what's next? With the dairy industry always under the microscope, what will we be blamed for next? What will be out of our hands, but yet we'll be blamed for it?
