TRR photo by tom Kane Got milk? Wayne County Dairy Queen Alicean Mignery wants to know at the annual Wayne County Dairy Day on February 16. (Click for larger image)

Honesdale High hosts 24th Dairy Day

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE — Wayne County dairy farmers met with agricultural engineers, milk marketing experts, dairy nutritionists, agronomists, banking officials, insurance agents and a phalanx of farming vendors at the 24th Annual Wayne County Dairy Day last Friday, February 16 at Honesdale High School.

The event, which drew a large number of dairy farmers, was sponsored by the Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension.

“We don’t hold any workshops or presentations, but provide time for people to talk informally,” said Extension Agricultural Agent Ed Pruss. “All the experts are here and they’re talking.”

There are 150 dairy farms still operating in the county, according to Pruss. Like many farmers in other localities in the country, Wayne County dairy farmers are strapped with rising costs and more demanding technology, he said.

“Five years ago there were 200 dairy farms. It’s a tough business to be in these days,” Pruss said

Farmers received advice about feed and new pesticide techniques, and also about loans and mortgages they can use to fund their businesses.

Donna Brown of AgChoice Farm Credit was talking to dairyman George Swingle and his daughter Kerry about possible investments.

Grant Turano of the Wayne County Conservation District talked to farmers about grants that can be used to control things like barnyard run-off.

“A lot of our concerns are about protecting water quality in the various watersheds around the county,” Turano said. A farmer can get a grant to build fencing around streams to keep the livestock out, he said.

“It’s our 24th dairy day, so I guess farmers like coming to these things,” Pruss said.