As one dairy farmer, Doug Shelmidine, a partner in Sheland Dairy Farms in the Town of Ellisburg has said, “I do it, even during bad times, because it is what I like to do.”  “I like to work outside, to work with animals, to have the variety of activities that I am challenged with every day,” Mr Shelmidine said, adding “It is a challenging business that I enjoy being a part of every day.”    While Mr. Shelmidine’s statement is probably typical of many of our dairy farmers, the responses may vary.    Most farmers admit they don’t expect to be rich from dairy farming but you can have very good years and then have very bad years.  If the price they received for their milk was more stable, most would say they are happy with their career choice.

Figure1. Doug Shelmidine (on right), speaks with James Fayle, Regional Director for Empire State Development, about the compost being produced on Sheland Farms for use as bedding for the cows.

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John D. Peck, who operates a small dairy farm with his dad in the Town of Champion in Jefferson County says, “It’s an absolutely wonderful place to raise a family. I can’t think of any other place where you can teach your children about a strong work ethic, the joy of helping to bring a new life into the world and nurturing it into adulthood, the pain and sorrow of the death of an animal that becomes a part of your family as you provide for it as it provides for you, and the trials of working with forces that are outside of human control.” Mr. Peck added, “Farming is a humbling occupation full of trials and risk that become greatly compounded with low prices that you sometimes receive for your work. I often wonder these days what else would I do and it’s hard to consider doing anything else.”