Dairy-Backed Sales Limits OK'd in House
Washington, D.C., March 29, 2006

Legislation Aims to End Exemption for Large Milk `Producer-Handler'
Washington, D.C., March 28, 2006

Producer-Handler Dairymen Featured on Fox News - The Fox Report
March 22, 2006

Got Competition?
Yuma, AZ, February 25, 2006

He Sells Milk for Half the Price You pay. The Feds Want to Stop Him. Why?
Yuma, AZ, February 19, 2006

System Controlled by Industry Giants
Chicago, IL, February 19, 2006

Dairyman Biding Time with USDA Decision
Yuma, AZ, February 11, 2006

Small Dairyman Shakes Up Milk Industry
Yuma, AZ, February 2, 2006

New Federal Rule to Hit Edaleen Dairy: Farm Too Large for Revised Exemption
Bellingham, WA, January, 14, 2006

Moo-To-You May Become Moot-To-You
Seattle, WA, January, 4, 2006

USDA Announces Final Decision to Amend pacific Nothwest and Arizona-Las Vegas Milk Orders
Washington D.C., December 9, 2005

Do-it-yourself dairies may lose exemption
Silverton,OR, August 13, 2005

Running family farm not about corporate profit: it's about pride
Silverton, OR, August 10, 2005

New rules may milk farm dry
Kent, WA, July 11, 2005

Local dairy on Federal Government hit list
Silverton, OR, July 10, 2005

U.S. sour on tactics of milk's top co-op
Washington D.C., June 20, 2005

Public rallies behind local dairyman
Yuma, AZ, June 19, 2005

Monday deadline looms for Smith Brothers
Kent, WA, June 12, 2005

See more Dairy News!

Family Dairy Farms Could Be Squeezed Out

May 24, ,2005
Leslie Knopp
KOMO News

KENT, WASHINGTON - Some people might think it's a thing of the past to have milk delivered right to your front door.

Think again.

Smith Brothers Farms in Kent still delivers milk right to customers' doors.

"My grandfather started it in 1920. It's just always been ours," said Alexis Smith Koester, the President of Smith Brothers Dairy.

The farm is one of the few large family farms in the country that produces milk, from cow to carton.

"It is a possibility it could drive us out of business. We'll do everything we can for it not to," said Koester. She's talking about fighting proposed new U.S. Department of Agriculture rules.

Most farmers don't package their milk. They sell it to a milk pool system. Big companies then buy it and market it.

The Smith Family does it all themselves.

But, now the Feds want to require all farms that produce 350,000 gallons of milk to sell it to the pool.

The rule would impact just two farms in Washington. Smith says her dairy would have to sell milk to the pool, then buy it back at a higher cost. Koester thinks the farm would lose $150,000 a month, and go out of business. "I think getting rid of the small family businesses is not good for the American consumer."

She thinks less competition will force milk prices up. A USDA spokeswoman told KOMO 4 News the agency has 'no comment' on the proposed new rules until they're approved.

Smith Farms hopes their customers will help them convince the Feds not to change the rules.

"If the other companies wanted to, they could have home delivery," said milk drinker Diane Stephens." Her daughter gets Smith Farms milk. "It's a niche. I think everybody has a right to do whatever," she said.

"I believe our 40,000 home customers are very loyal to us," said Koester. But, she knows it will take more than that to make sure her family's dairy doesn't become a thing of the past.

For More Information:

www.keepmilkpriceslow.org

U.S. Department of Agriculture Recommendations