November 25, 2024
Letter

Dairy farmers let down

They say that if you wait and do nothing the problem will sometimes take care of itself. I see Gov. Baldacci is implementing just such a decisive management style when it comes to aiding Maine’s dairy farmers.

His task force spent better than half a year researching the dairy crisis, but in the end the administration found that report lacking. Further delay was brought about when the governor sent the report on to the Department of Agriculture to be “tidied up.” I have to wonder if “tied up” isn’t more like it.

It is estimated it will cost the state $5 million to $10 million to help rescue our local dairy farmers. While this is a good deal of money, I might remind those in Augusta that our Department of Human Services could misplace that amount in a fortnight.

No, the answer appears to be for the state to do nothing. In that case the ever-dwindling number of dairy farmers will pose less of a headache for the governor as time goes on.

Just remember that we will then be buying yet another food product from away at a time when knowing the source of the food we buy has never been more important. Pretty sad.

Rick Goodwin

Dexter


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