DAMASCUS, PA — If family dairy farms are to survive and prosper, they’ve got to receive more for their product than it costs to produce it, dairy farmer and Wayne County Commissioner Brian Smith told the audience in his barn.

Smith spoke passionately at the August 6, legislative day and picnic sponsored by the Wayne-Pike Counties Farm Bureau. The day included tours at the Smith farm and nearby Calkins Creamery.

“It is unreasonable to expect people to make food and sell it for less than it costs to produce,” Smith told one of the tour groups that was shown his new barn’s milking and product storage rooms.

Smith remained a determined dairyman despite the loss of his barn and a dozen cows to fire last May.

He credited friends and family for volunteering their help and equipment in rebuilding. Insured for $150,000, the new barn thus far has cost $300,000 and is not finished.

He and his sons-in-law all work second jobs to supplement the family income. Aside from his work as a county commissioner, Smith also drives a school bus. “Nobody can make a living on a dairy farm today without a second job,” he told about 75 people in attendance, including state and federal representatives.

Smith said milk costs him $25 per hundred-pound weight to produce, while it is currently bringing $15 in return, and price support insurance suggested by state and federal officials does not make up the difference. He called for legislative action to set supports to at the least bring his price back to his cost.

Failing that, he was concerned about the continuing loss of dairy farms. Wayne once had 1,200 dairy farms and now has 65. “It’s a matter of national security. If you can’t feed the population, we’re in trouble,” he said.