Local Farmers Celebrate 50 years with Dairylea Cooperative

On October 13, Dairylea Cooperative Inc. hosted its 102nd Annual Meeting at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool, NY. The theme of this year’s meeting was “Together We Achieve” and the presentations gave more than 500 farmer‐members and guests alike a view of the strength of the cooperative even in the face of the extreme economic hardships dairy farms felt this past year. Speakers were united in the message that there is light at the end of this tunnel and spoke to the strength of the dairy industry and of the Cooperative.

Dairylea President Clyde Rutherford kicked off the Annual Meeting by giving his 32nd Presidential Address. Rutherford focused on the future of the industry, highlighting the opportunities that lay ahead. He stressed working together as a method to achieving a successful outcome, echoing the theme of this year.

“It will take the collaborative efforts of our members, employees, business partners, customers and agribusiness friends to build a stronger, more profitable, successful industry that will better serve the needs of the market and the farms alike,” the long‐time chairman said.

Among the topics that Rutherford spoke about were Federal Orders and the need for change, supply management, increasing domestic and international demand, and supporting and expanding the global export market. He stressed the need for adaptation and collaboration, calling them the secrets to the more than 100 years of Dairylea.

“We must remember,” Rutherford ended, “that individually, little can get done but together we can achieve.”

Rutherford was followed on stage by Chief Executive Officer Greg Wickham. Wickham has been with Dairylea since 1997, serving as CEO for four years. His presentation gave farmer‐members an overview of how Dairylea has acted in their interests through the difficult year. Moreover, Wickham stressed the bright future that lay ahead.

While admitting that predicting milk price is difficult, Wickham discussed a number of keys to the milk price for the rest of 2009 and into 2010. He forecast steadily increasing prices on three levels, indicating that prices will be around $16 per hundredweight in December 2009 with the possibility of reaching $20 per hundredweight by the end of 2010. These projections, coupled with decreasing farm input costs, will bring relief to dairy farms across the Northeast.

Wickham also discussed the variety of farm services that Dairylea provides to its farmer‐members. He acknowledged the strengths of these organizations, and their 2009 activities, while realizing a number of opportunities that are available to each as the Cooperative moves forward into 2010.

As part of his presentation, Wickham reported stable Dairylea financials. The Cooperative marketed approximately 6.2 billion pounds of milk in 2009. Dairylea also saw sales numbers just above $1.2 billion. As is the goal of the Cooperative, member equity, even in the midst of the difficult pricing, once again saw an increase over last year. Also, as the Cooperative strove to support its farmer‐members during this difficult year, Dairylea premium payments to farms are up over last year to just above $61 million.

Members and industry guests were also treated to two guest presenters during the Annual Meeting celebration: Bob Engel, President and CEO of CoBank, was welcomed to the stage to present “The Restructuring of the Global Economy – and What it Means for Our Future.” CoBank is an agricultural cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. Dairylea is proud of its relationship with CoBank and with the entire Farm Credit System. Engel discussed the changes taking place as the economy changes and grows. He noted the inherent strength of the dairy industry as it moves forward.

Rick Smith, President and CEO of Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., and former CEO of Dairylea Cooperative, was welcomed back to Syracuse to present a “DFA and Industry Update,” encompassing the global nature of the dairy industry and providing a window into the continued expansion of the industry, even in the face of adversity.

As part of its Annual Meeting celebration, Dairylea Cooperative was pleased to honor three Dairylea member farms with the 2009 Pride of Dairylea Award. The Pride of Dairylea Award annually recognizes farms that are well‐managed, well maintained and that work hard to produce a high‐quality product. This year, Dairylea is proud to honor Mushkoday Farm, operated by the Burgin family in Delhi, NY; Schwab Dairy Farm, operated by the Schwab family of Delevan, NY; and Sheldon Farm, operated by the Sheldon family of Fair Haven, VT.

On an annual basis, Dairylea Cooperative awards its Leadership Scholarship to high school seniors and college‐aged students who are pursuing careers in agriculture‐related professions, exhibit outstanding leadership ability and foster the spirit of cooperation. This year’s Leadership Scholarship recipients are Abigail Andrew of Newark, NY; Adam Hardie of Lansing, NY; Andi Shea LeBeau of Pulaski, NY; Andrew Cole of Canajoharie, NY; Corey Wilt of Everett, PA; Elizabeth Joy Fullerton of Argyle, NY; and Sara King of Waddington, NY.

Dairylea Cooperative was founded in 1907 and is built on the strength of its diverse membership. This year, Dairylea was proud to honor members with 50 or more years of membership, calling them Distinguished Members. There were nine member families honored with this distinction: Stewart Farm LLC of Greenwich, NY; Reedland Farms LLC of Clifton Springs, NY; Roger M. Sweppenhiser of Herndon, PA; Rodney and Nancy Schultes of Mt. Upton, NY; Joseph, Wilma and Joseph Bacon Jr. of Cayuga, NY; Martin and Glenice Branigan of Richfield Springs, NY; Collins Knoll Farm LLC of Sauqoit, NY; Lamella Farms of Phelps, NY; and Rice Farm of Kennedy, NY.

Dairylea Cooperative was proud to honor once again the top nine farms in the Cooperative for achievements in milk quality management this year. For nearly 20 years, Dairylea has been recognizing members whose herds produce outstanding raw milk. This year, Dairylea honored Jeffrey Sharts of Greenwich, NY; Rice Farm of Kennedy, NY; Howard Sutton and Son LLC of Califon, NJ; Henderson Farms of Schaghticoke, NY; David and Tina Houde of St. Johnsbury, VT; Snowtop Farm of Willseyville, NY; Timothy Northrop of York, NY; Balsam View Dairy of McDonough, NY; and Shearing Farms LLC of Gainsville, NY.

Local Farmers Celebrate 50 years with Dairylea Cooperative

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