Lancaster County farmers give state officials ideas to help struggling dairy industry

Lancaster County residents and farmers have taken state agriculture officials up on their appeal for ideas to address Pennsylvania’s dairy crisis. They offered strong advice and plenty of ideas, such as allowing whole milk back in public schools and eliminating the minimum retail price that milk can be sold for in stores. Multiple commenters expressed strong criticism of Pennsylvania Milk Marketing Board policies and the practices of large dairy cooperatives. Others felt strongly that milk substitutes that are almond- or soy-based should not be allowed — by law — to be billed as milk in any way. But the most oft-cited suggestion among local residents was to allow whole milk in schools again. “We all know part of this problem started when whole milk was removed from school lunches,” Lucy Oberholtzer, a dairy farmer from East Earl, wrote in an e-mail. “What is taking so long for milk to be put back on the menu?” Another strong sticking point with local respondents is Pennsylvania’s law that dictates a minimum retail price. It’s meant to benefit dairy farmers, but some think it has become counterproductive and actually discourages milk consumption.The Milk Marketing Board also sets an over-order premium on milk that assumes Pennsylvania consumers are willing to pay a little more per gallon if they know that they are helping out the Pennsylvania dairy farmer.