In challenging climate for dairy industry, some Vermont farmers find success with goats
Officials with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture say as consumers increasingly seek locally-produced and artisan food options, and with goat cheese remaining popular, more people are considering exploring goat or sheep farming.
Such a path is also one of many possible solutions to bolstering the dairy industry through its economic challenges, agricultural business development officials have said.
The cow’s milk sector has long been battered by low prices paid to producers, high operational costs, and rising competition from plant-based substitutes. State numbers show there are 544 Vermont farms milking cows today. That number is down more than 400 from a decade ago.
A dairy industry revitalization task force is holding meetings at the Vermont State House in Montpelier, with its latest session on Monday, aiming to guide future policies.
However, already, some farms are turning to goats as a possible alternative path, believing they can be easier and more affordable to care for than cows — cleaner, too.
Joneslan Farm of Hyde Park recently made the switch from cows to goats after 150 years, as shown in this video produced by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture.
“They act a lot different than cows,” farmer Brian Jones said in the video, describing his new herd of goats and how they could be a key part of keeping the farm operational. “But I like it — I like it better than I do cows, I guess, so far.”
On the Facebook page for Joneslan Farm, the owners describe a goal of growing to have more than 1,000 milking goats at the farm.
The market for goat’s milk is strong and comes with a premium price, compared to conventional cow’s milk, explained Laura Ginsburg with the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center.