Dear Editor:

(Concerning the letter to the editor from Wayne Prichard on dairy in the May 9 Farm World), Just an amen and Hallelujah. To increase milk production prices by control production is just common sense. Why work 16-hour days seven days a week when you barely cover expenses.

The family dairy farm had production records from past years, and easy adjustment to control production. These mega dairies are producing the oversupply of milk with no controls of production, just add 1,000 more cows.

We were with Dairy Farmers of America Cooperative that was to look out for the interest of farmers. Why those leaders could not see this mess coming with no control over the mega operations.

The cooperatives sold the small dairy down the drain. They set up the Equity Program, taking a portion of milk check according to production to help operate on. Then when you quit milking, it takes 10 years to get your money back.

Our dairy was three generations for 75 years, a 70-cow dairy with excellent quality premiums. The land was rolling, ideal for dairy, lots of pasture and good hay production. We raised all feed except grain in parlor.

We were the last dairy to go down in our county. Leaving the only dairy in our area so hauling was $2 a hundred. A sad day for the community when you are left to seek income elsewhere to live and pay your taxes.

Jerry Hon

Florence, Ind.