> A kind of mythology developed over the years with the famous
> claim that the further you are from Eau Claire, WI, the higher the pay
> price. Even though, untrue, many farmers still believe it.
Just a minor correction here. The law was actually written that way at one
point.
Arbitrary and capricious it was, but It did help the Nation in that
production
was eventually moved somewhat more evenly around the country.
========================
F. W. Owen
Owenlea Holsteins
FWO is correct and at the time, most of the milk produced in WI was grade B,
designated for cheese vats. With the advent of bulk tanks replacing can
milk, most WI dairy farmers went Grade A, capturing the added premium, even
though their Grade A milk still ended up in the cheese vats.
The Eau Claire rule was intended to insure a locally produced supply of
beverage milk for parts of the US less suited for dairying, relative to the
WI dairying climate. WI has long led the nation in number of dairy farmers
within a state's borders and the massive amount of dairying infastructure.
Switching to cheese production served WI and the nation well. Over 25% of
US cheese production takes place in WI.
Dave G.
