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Washington, D.C., March 29, 2006

Legislation Aims to End Exemption for Large Milk `Producer-Handler'
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Producer-Handler Dairymen Featured on Fox News - The Fox Report
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He Sells Milk for Half the Price You pay. The Feds Want to Stop Him. Why?
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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
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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!

Running family farm not about corporate profit: it's about pride

Appeal Tribune
Silverton, OR
August 10, 2005

Mallorie's Dairy has seen some tough times over  51 years in business.  A few years ago milk prices fell to a twenty-year low and during that time many dairies went out of business. 

Yet nothing has been as dangerous to our family operation as a proposed rule by the USDA on April 13, 2005 that would limit producer-handlers (dairies that have their own cows and bottle their own milk) to 60 percent of what we currently bottle.

This new rule is backed by some of the largest milk conglomerates in the United States .  For the past 10 years large milk processors and cooperatives like Dean Foods and  Dairy Farmers of America (don't let the friendly name fool you-look on the internet) have been buying up milk processors or merging to form large mega corporations and Co-ops.

Smaller processors are afraid and find it hard to compete with these large entities that spread their sales across the U.S.   They can afford to make less profit on one commodity because they make it back on another.

Several of these large companies have targeted producer-handlers because we are affecting their corporate profit. They had the accountants, lawyers, economists, and the financing needed to present their side at hearings that took place and led to this rule change.

We, along with two Washington Producer-handlers, defended ourselves by each paying out $80,000 in lawyer fees.  That is a lot of money for our family dairy to pay out.  Now that $80,000 has more than doubled but it is small compared to what it will cost us if this rule stands.

We have no choice but to fight this because it would be devastating to our dairy farm.

Although the comment period ended June 13, 2005, the final decision may take until October or later to be decided.  In the meantime we need to keep the campaign alive.  We are looking for support from Senators and Representatives from our State.

If you go to the website www.KeepMilkPricesLow.org you will see updates about the campaign and if you submit a comment from the website a copy will go to the USDA and our U.S. Senators and Representatives.

We appreciate all the support from our community.

With your help we have brought attention to this rule change that would affect consumers as well as our family dairy farm.  We know of 40,000 comments sent during the comment period.

I am proud of the dairy farm my father built, and that my family has been able to continue running it after he passed away in 1996. I am proud to be able to produce a nutritious product for so many families in the Willamette Valley at an affordable price.  To me, running our family dairy farm is not about corporate profit; it is about pride of ownership, doing your best to see things improve, providing good jobs, and working together with a team of people you really enjoy.  It's America at its finest.

From our family to yours-to Silverton, the town where I was born and raised and that will always be my home.  Thank you,  

Teri (Mallorie) Kilgus
Mallorie's Dairy