Wisconsin seeks relief for dairy farmers

Wisconsin is now asking the federal government to step in and help dairy farmers in the state.

WISCONSIN IS ASKING THEFEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP INAND HELP FARMERS HERE INAMERICA'S DAIRYLAND.CORONAVIRUS IS PUSHING THEDEMAND FOR DAIRY PRODUCTS SOLOW ... FARMERS ARE NOWDUMPING OUT WHAT THEY'VEWORKED SO HARD TO PRODUCE.RYAN JENKINS SPOKE WITH THESTATE'S INTERIM SECRETARY OFAGRICULTURE... TO SEE WHAT CANBE DONE TO HELP.3:40 "2020 did have thepotential to be a good yearfor dairy farmers and we werereally looking forward tothis."SUSAN CRANE IS A DAIRYFARMER IN KENOSHA COUNTY.SHESAYS AFTER SEVERAL CHALLENGINGYEARS ... THE DAIRY MARKETLOOKED PROMISING IN 2020.3:57And now this happened.THECORONAVIRUS, KNOWN ASCOVID-19, QUICKLY KILLED THEDEMAND FOR DAIRY.(Romanski)08:04:41 Schools are closed,restaurants are closed withlimited circumstances so,that's changed the demand forthe product.WISCONSIN'SINTERIM AG SECRETARY, RANDYROMANSKI, SAYS THE STATE ISNOW WORKING TO SECURERESOURCES TO HELP FARMERSBEING HIT HARD.(Romanski)"Nobody could've seen COVID-19and the impacts it had ondemand and as a result, weunfortunately see milk beingdisposed of at a time whenthere are people who are foodinsecure in our country,"WISCONSIN'S LEADERS HAVE ASKEDTHE U-S DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURE TO STEP IN ANDIMPLEMENT A DAIRY BUYBACKPROGRAM.UNDER THE PROPOSAL,THE U-S-D-A WOULD BUY DAIRYPRODUCT FROM WISCONSIN'SFARMERS ... AND USE ITELSEWHERE.(Romanski) "it'sreally important for thefederal government to step inand provide healthy,nutritious dairy products forfood pantries, nutritionassistance programs and inother areas that people needthem,"FOR NOW, MILK IS BEINGDUMPED ... AND DAIRY FARMERSHAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE.(Ryan)Q: 4:15 Is thissomething that you could everprepare for?

Something likeCOVID-19.(Crane)A: 4:20 No, Idon't think you could preparefor it Ryan, because a farm isnot like a factory.

You can'tshut the lights off, and closeand lock the doors and walkaway for a week and then comeback and start productionagain.

FARMERS ... WITH NOOPTION BUT TO CONTINUEPRODUCING DAIRY... WITH ORWITHOUT DEMAND.DRAINING THEIRLIVELIHOODS ... WITH NOIMMEDIATE END IN SITE.RYANJENKINS TMJ-4 NEWS