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COVID-19 crisis on farms didn’t discriminate

The founder of Fair Oaks Farms says every size farm has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was devastating for small producers, medium-sized producers, and large producers on an equal basis.”

Indiana dairyman Mike McCloskey says when milk markets collapsed as demand shifted from food service to retail in the spring, large amounts of milk were dumped, and dairy incomes were cut in half.

“That damage is felt all the way through, I don’t care how big you are, I don’t care what your efficiencies are, I believe in those cases, all producers should be treated equal.”

He says in cases of disasters and devastation, all farmers suffer regardless of size and should be helped in some way.

McCloskey made his comments during a recent U.S. House subcommittee hearing.