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Alfalfa cutting delays not helping dairy farm stress

A dairy farmer says in the fifth year of low milk prices, the weather is adding extra pressure on farmers.

Ken Nobis who farms in Mid-Michigan tells Brownfield most farmers haven’t finished first cutting alfalfa whereas by the middle of June they’re typically into second cutting.

“The quality isn’t going to be there for the hay.  I think there’s going to be pressure on production this year, hopefully, that will mean we’ll get enough price increase to compensate.”     

Julie Alexander, Chair of the Michigan House Ag Committee and former dairy farmer, tells Brownfield farmers across Michigan are in very similar situations depending on location.

“We spoke with a farmer a couple of days ago; he’s not even been able to be on the fields yet.” 

USDA says alfalfa cutting in Michigan is running nearly 30 percent behind the five-year average.

Nobis and Alexander spoke with Brownfield during this week’s Dairy Day at the Capitol in Lansing.