Dairy Farmers Look Ahead To An Uncertain Future

By Steve Bigham

As Stephen Paproski looked out across his 100-acre farm earlier this week, he couldn’t help but wonder what the future had in store for his family. As owner of one of only two dairy farms remaining in Fairfield County (both are in Newtown), the longtime farmer is one of the last of his kind in an industry in decline in New England.

The price of milk has not changed much over the past 20 years, so while Mr Paproski’s expenses have skyrocketed, his income has remained relatively even. That doesn’t make for very good business.

“Everyone else along the line gets the increase, except the farmers,” he said. “It’s getting harder and harder.”

Castle Hill Farm on Sugar Lane was started by Mr Paproski’s grandfather back in the 1940s when he purchased the tract of land for a mere $10,000. Back then, farming was a profitable business and the farm was a bustling place.

“It was a way of life,” Mr Paproski said.

Sam Paproski, Steve’s father, also ran the business for several years and had as many as six full-time employees working for him at one time. Today, however, Mr Paproski works the farm alone, although he does bring in a couple of part-time hands.

 Mr Paproski admits he doesn’t know what lies ahead for Castle Hill Farm and tends to shy away from discussing the matter. He does not want to think about what might happen to the farm once he is gone.

“I’m not going to retire,” he said half joking. “I’m sure it won’t always be a dairy farm. We’re already doing other things.”

Castle Hill Farm has diversified in recent years, selling pumpkins and Christmas trees in addition to milk. But even that may not be enough. Nevertheless, the local farmer said he has no intention of selling the land, even though it is the land that holds the farm’s only significant value – that and Mr Paproski’s outdated farm equipment.

“We’ll fight it all the way,” he said, vowing to avoid what happened three years ago when half the family farm was sold, over Mr Paproski’s objections, by other family members to a developer for new home construction.

Castle Hill Farm runs northward from Route 302 across wetlands, the climbs a steep hillside where it adjoins Castle Hill Road. The farm contains wetlands, woods, sharp slopes, boulder-strewn fields, and rich undulating pastureland fringed with thickets and shrubs. It has about 100 cows, 50 of which are milkers.

 

The Northeast

Dairy Compact

Fortunately, Castle Hill Farm, the nearby Ferris farm, and hundreds of other New England farms have received some help from the Northeast Dairy Compact – established by the New England states and the United States Congress to assure the continued viability of dairy farming in the Northeast.

Working to stabilize milk prices, the compact is responding to the struggles of dairy farmers under the current federal pricing system, whose erratic nature has made it difficult for farmers to develop business plans for their farm operations. Milk prices have declined five percent in real dollars (unadjusted for inflation) since 1985. Since then, 40 percent of New England’s dairy farms have ceased operation, according to Newtown resident Mae Schmidle, a former state representative, who now serves on the compact. Also serving on the compact is Newtown resident Shirley Ferris, the state’s commissioner of agriculture.

Mrs Schmidle said the erratic milk prices have paved the way for the Midwest milk market to make a push into the area. Most if not all milk consumed in Newtown is from New England, but that all could change, Mrs Schmidle said.

Large supermarkets like Super Stop & Shop are able to pick and choose in order to get the best deal they can, creating a huge market battle among farmers, according to Mrs Schmidle.

“There’s a fallout. If we’re not using New England milk in New England, then you have to wonder about the New England dairy farmers and all the land, which currently serves as open space,” said Mrs Schmidle.

The Northeast Compact does have the authority to stabilize pricing, but not until after holding a series of hearings.