R.I.P, Alaska Dairies :(

[Pouncer]

My vet just sent me an email, describing a situation that is the direct result of Matanuska Maid (only dairy plant) closing down.

In a nutshell, there are going to be 100s of cows shot over the next couple of months. They cannot abandon them at the farms they are forced to leave, that is criminal and they do care about the cows. They cannot just take them to the one slaughter plant because they can only process 20 cows a week-and they are booked through December anyway. They cannot take them out of state because Canada will not allow them passage to the Lower 48. If they are unloaded in Canada, they have to stay-and you cannot bring them back into the US.

It's been two years of pretty poor hay crops, so local hay is scarce. I don't see any solution to the situation at all...which is really really bad for Alaska and farming in general here. There are plans afoot to create a new plant for making specialty cheeses and etc, but it won't be up and running until January. By then, most of the dairy herds will be shot and buried. They cannot be replaced because of the imprtation restrictions through Canada.

This really bites. Sorry, just venting. And no they can't sell raw milk to the public either, that's forbidden

[Lindafisk]

Wow, that is so sad.....I went looking to read a bit more about it and found this on their website....

Matanuska Maid Dairy To Shut Down Operations

http://www.matmaid.com/pages/news_sdown.html

Hope you don't mind my posting the link.
My dh was just offered a job in Anchorage and I am wondering how this will affect the dairy prices....

[Pouncer]

Mat Maid has always been more expensive than the grocery store milk. I never minded paying the additional dollar or so-the milk is so much better than imported. Their sour cream ROCKS, for example, lol

It won't change the store prices one bit, it just means the bright yellow jugs will be gone off the shelves

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Very sad. It sounds like it may be a nasty winter for Alaskan horses too with the hay shortage. I can't imagine hay prices like you all have there.

[Ravenlost]

That's awful!

[Pouncer]

It's very steep, even local hay prices.....and much of it is not clean and dry this year. Just a bad deal, all around, for everybody. I can't imagine being in such a spot with the dairy cows though-those folks must be really torn up.

[james dilley]

They can Ferry boat them to Washington State and sell them. But no one thinks of things like that!

[RichieC]

Originally Posted by james dilley

They can Ferry boat them to Washington State and sell them. But no one thinks of things like that!

I guarantee you that people have thought of that, explored the feasability of doing so, and found it to make no economic sense.

Don't assume farmers are stupid just because they are not "homesteaders."

[james dilley]

I never said they were. I just had the thought of the freey . With good milk cows A preimuin now that would be one way to do it though.

[Jennifer L.]

The Canadian/US border is opening to Canadian heifers on the 19th, last I heard.

Pouncer, that really stinks. Wish I could wave a magic wand . . .


Jennifer

[Pouncer]

Here's the deal with the farmer trying to take his herd south:

The cows must not be hauled more than 48 hours without unloading. There is no place in Canada to unload them, not allowed. They cannot travel through Canada based on current restrictions. The border opens up on the 19th of November, not October.

[DKWunlimited]

What about offering them up for adoption to local farmers/ homesteaders in Alaska?

[Pouncer]

I imagine it will come to that, or something like that. There is the Point MacKenzie Correctional Facility out there, which is a farm-but I am sure they can take only so many cows or calves. Only so much hay produced, remember? And the 100+ plus is just ONE farm, there are 100's more cows to deal with. Not sure on exact total but it's fairly sizable for up here.

[Highland]

According to Hoards Dairyman--March 10th issue-- There are a total of 10 dairies with a combined total of 800 cows.

[happycat]

Originally Posted by LisaInN.Idaho

Very sad. It sounds like it may be a nasty winter for Alaskan horses too with the hay shortage. I can't imagine hay prices like you all have there.

I know of a fellow who has his horses hauled down here from Alaska every winter. There are 12-15 draft horses, and it's cheaper to transport them here and feed them hay from the Kittitas Valley all winter than to keep them in Alaska and buy hay up there.

Sad, sad situation about the dairy closing and horrible for those cows. Hopefully some can find good new homes.

[AJ Williams]

Originally Posted by Highland

According to Hoards Dairyman--March 10th issue-- There are a total of 10 dairies with a combined total of 800 cows.

Find 800 homesteaders and let them resolve the situation by utilizing the meat themselves.

[DaleK]

Has nothing to do with Canada not allowing them passage to the lower 48. The US won't accept live breeding animals that have been in Canada, even just passing through. MAYBE after Nov. 19, more likely R-Calf and others will get it tied up in US courts again. Blame R-Calf. As far as I know there's no reason these animals couldn't be sold in BC or Alberta other than requiring them to meet Canadian traceback requirements.

[tomstractormag]

Find a way to distribute the meat to those in need. If someone can take a whole animal for milk or meat better than just destroying it.

Originally Posted by AJ Williams

Find 800 homesteaders and let them resolve the situation by utilizing the meat themselves.

[Pouncer]

Surprisingly enough, my vet told me that the cows cannot be on a trailer longer than 48 hours. There is no place in Canada to unload them-not allowed. So, effectively they cannot travel through. The borders have been closed to cattle for quite a while now.

The farm referenced has polled (something?) and brown Swiss. The last animal brought onto the farm was in 1999. No signs of Johne's, but the herd has not been tested either, which makes for difficulties here. It's a mixed herd-some dry, some first freshened, some bred, etc-just like most dairies. I don't know how many calves there are.

They aren't going to give them up if they can hang onto them. It's the feds pulling the plug on the farm, not the state Ag program(s).

[fantasymaker]

yep the government finally has found one more way to destroy farming in the park they call the state of Alaska