>> THIS LAND IS OF MY FOREBEARERS WHO CONFORMED ITS WILDNESS TO THEIR OWN DESIGNS, WHO PLOWED MEASURED FURROWS ACROSS ITS RANDOM SWALES AND DESCRIBED ITS BOUNDARIES IN ROWS OF STONE, WHO BAPTIZED IT WITH THEIR SWEAT AND THEIR BLOOD AND JOINED IT WITH THEIR BONES.

>> THE ARE THE FADED RUINS OF A TIME GONE BY.

THEY'RE ALL THAT'S LEFT OF FORMER WAYF DOINGHIS, THE UORNATE BYPRODUCTS OF ACESS WE CALL PROGRESS.

THE ONLY THING THAT HAS REMAINEDNCHANGED IN FARMING IS THE INEVIDENTBILITY OF CHANGE.

SINCE OUR REGION WAS FIRST SETTLED, WAIVES OF MIGRATION, MARKETPLACE TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES HAVE TRANSFORMED AND RETRANSFORMED THE WAY VERMONTERS FARM.

AGRICULTURE IS FOREVER REINVENTING ITSELF, AND THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT PATTERN SEEM HARSHER HERE IN VERMONT THAN ELSEWHERE.

NEVER HAS THIS BEEN MORE TRUE TN TODAY.

FORCE A CENTURY, VERMONT'S TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL BASE HAS BEEN ITS SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED DAIRY FARMS, BUT TIMES ARE CHANGING.

LIMITED TODAY BY THE SAME GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE THAT LAUNCHED IT, VERMONT'S SMALL-SCALE DAIRY INDUSTRY IS BEING ECONOMICALLY STRANGLED BY A NATIONAL TREND TORD ASSEMBLY LINE AGRICULTURE.

HUGEFFICIENT FACTORY FARMS ARE MAKING MILK PRODUCTN CHEAPER THAN EVER BUT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SMALLER PRODUCERS TO COMPETE.

THE STRAIN IS SHOWING.

FARMS ARE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS IN DROVES.

>> SMALL FAMILY FARMERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE BEEN ON THE LANDOR GENERATIONS, THEY'RE BEING SQEESED OFF OF THE LAND.

IT'S NOT JUST VERMONT, IT'S THE MIDWEST.

IN THEIR PLACE YOU'RE FINDING LARGE AGRI-BUSINESS CORPORATIONS.

>> THIS FAMILY FARM WENT OUT OF BUSINESS BECAUSE WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO PRODUCE MILK.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILY FARMERS COULD BE GOING OUT OF BUSINESS.

>> THERE'S LITTLE DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE A DECLINE IN OUR OVERALL FARM NUMBERS IN VERMONT, WHETHER IT'S THE DAIRY INDUSTRY FARM NUMBERS OR THE TOTAL FARM NUMBERS.

>> ONE INTERPRETATION OF THE CURRENT SITUATION IS THAT VERMONT FARMING IS SIMPLY UNDERGOING ANOTHER ONE OF ITS HISTORIC TRANSITIONS.

>> YOU'RE PROBABLY SEEING THE LAST GENERATION OF SERIOUS AGRICULTURE IN VERMONT, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF AGRICULTURE WILL BE EITHER WEEKENDERS OR PART TIME BROCCOLI RACERS, OR PEOPLE WHO JUMP FROM ONE NICHE MARKET TO ANOTHER IN SEARCH OF TEMPORARY PROFITABILITY.

>> THE MOST HARDENING ASPECT OF THIS CHANGE IS THAT THE SAME FORCES THAT ARE PAINFULLY RESHAPING VERMONT'S DAIRY INDUSTRY ARE GIVING BIRTH TO A WHOLE RANGE OF PROMISING NEW AGRICULTURAL SECTORS.

AS A RESULT OF SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES IN BINE GENETICS, COWS ARE PRODUCING FWIS THE MILK THEY DID 40 YEARS AGO.

SIMILAR REFINEMENTS IN THE RELATIVELY NEW SQINS OF AQUACULTURE ARE MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR TROUT FARMERS TO PRODUCE CONSISTENTLY LARGE FISH.

THERE'S A NEW AWARENESS AMONG DAIRY FARMERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF A HUMANE WORKING ENVIRONMENT THAT TURNS THE FORMER DRUDGERY OF WORK TIME INTO QUALITY TIME.

BY THE SAME TOKEN, PEOPLE YOU'D THINK LEAST LIKELY TO BE INTERESTED IN FARMINGRE DISCOVERING THAT WORKING HARD, PHYSICAL LABOR INTO THEIR LIFESTYLE CAN BE A REWARDING EXPERIENCE.

AT A TIME WHEN LOW MILK PRICES ARE DRIVING MANY DAIRY PRODUCERS OUT OF BUSINESS, SOME HAVE TAKEN THE MATTER OF PRICE SETTING INTO THEIR OWN HANDS BY PROCESSING THEIR OWN VALUE ADDED PRODUCTS.

IT'S PART OF GROWING ENTREPRENEURIAL TREND OF PARLAYING THE VERMONT IDENTITY INTO PRICEY SPECIALTY FOODS.

EVEN STATE GOVERNMENT HAS GOTTEN INTO THE ACT BY CREATING A DEPARTMENT TO ENCOURAGE THE MOVEMENT.

>> NO ONE'S FEELING THE CHANGES IN FARMING MORE THAN THE GENERATION THAT'S EXPECTED TO TAKE CHARGE OF TOMORROW'S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND NOWHERE ARE YOUNG FARMERS MORE AWARE OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAN AT A MEETING OF THE F. F. A.. WHAT'S THE F. F. A.?

>> IT WAS CALLED THE FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA, NOW IT'S F. F. A.. THE CHANGE NEEDED TO BROADEN OUR HORIZONS SEE HOW WE SEE AGRICULTURE BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST FARMERS ANYMORE, IT'S PEOPLE THAT HAVE A CONCERN AND A REAL WORRY AS TO WHERE AGRICULTURE IS GOING.

IT'S NOT JUST JOHN BOY BACK ON THE HOME FARM THAT'S MILKING 30 HEAD ANYMORE.

>> DESPITE A WIDESPREAD IDENTITY CRISIS AMONG OLDER FARMERS, MANY OF TODAY'S ASPIRING AGRICULTURAL LISTS ARE GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE EXCITEMENT OF NOT DOING BUSINESS AS USUAL.

>> WHAT I'M HOPING IS TO AY IN THE PH.D.

PROGRAM AND TO ACTUALLY GO OUT AND WORK WITH DAIRY PROCESSORS TO KEEP BACTERIA OUT OF THE PRODUCTS AND THAT WAY MAKE THE PRODUCTS A LOT SAFER AND PROMOW THE AGRICULTURE THAT WAY.

>> THE TREND TODAY IS TO MILK A LOT OF COWS.

I'D LIKE TO NOT DO QUITE SO MUCH SHOVELING AND MORE PENCIL PUSHING AND HAVE OTHER PEOPLE HELPING ME ACHIEVE MY GOALS.

>> BUT IF THERE'S ONE COMMON THREAD AMONG VERMONT'S FUTURE FARMERS, IT'S THE COMMITMENT TO AGRICULTURAL DIVERSITY.

>> THERE'S NO LONGER GOING TO BE THE TRADITIONAL DAIRY FARM THAT THERE IS NOW.

THERE ARE GOING TO BE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ENTERPRISES OPERATING ON ONE FARM.

>> THE CHANGES WILL BE NOTICEABLE.

YOU'LL SEE A BIGGER GROUP OF PEOPLE ENTERING INTO AGRICULTURAL FIELD, BUT NOT INTO THE NECESSARILY THE DAIRY FARM.

IT WILL BE THE FORESTRY FIELD, THE MAPLE SUGAR MAKING FIELD.

>> INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING DAIRY COWS, PEOPLE WILL HAVE CHRISTMAS TREES, HONEY BEES AND/OR FISH OR ANY COMBINATION OF THINGS.

>> FOR THE GENERATION THAT WILL INHERIT OUR NATION'S FOOD PRODUCTION, THE FUTURE HOLDS EXCITING PROMI, BUT FOR A GROWING NUMBER OF TODAY'S WORKING FARMERS, THE FUTURE IS NOW.

OO WITHIN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS THESE RAINBOW TROUT WILL BE SOLD AND SHIPPED TO PRIVATE PONDS THROUGHOUT VERMONT.

OVER THE PAST YEAR THEY'VE BEEN FED A HIGH PROTEIN DIET WHILE WATER TEMPERATURE AND AERATION LEVELS HAVE BEEN CAREFULLY MONITORED.

THIS IS AQUACULTURE, AND IT'S A PART OF THE EVER CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF FARMING IN VERMONT.

>> VERMONT NEEDED A PRIVATE SOURCE OF TROUT FOR POND STOCKING PRIMARILY, SO I ARTED RESEARCHING IT IT AND I SAW THAT THERE WAS, INDEED, A MARKET FOR THAT, AND THOUGHT MAYBE WE COULD DO IT.

THEN WE STARTED TALKING TO BANKS, GETTING PERMITS AND IT WAS ABOUT 3 YEARS AFTER WE FIRST THOUGHT OF DOING IT THAT IT CAME TO BE.

>> BLESSED WITH 40 ACRES OF WATER RICH LAND AND A SUPPORTIVE FAMILY, BOB AND SHIRLEYOLEMAN DISCOVERED AN ALTERNATIVEGRICULTURAL MARKET NICHE AND FILLED IT.

>> BEFORE WE STARTED THERE WERE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE RAISING FISH IN VERMONT AND IT WAS MORE OF A HOBBY.

WE'RE THE ONLY FISH FARM IN THE STATE OF VERMONT THAT'S TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING OFF OF RAISING AND SELLING FISH.

THIS IS TOTALLY WHAT WE DO.

OUR SOLE INCOME.

>> WHEN WE FIRST STARTED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE BASICALLY BOUGHT FINGERLINGS.

THAT'S ALL THAT WAS AVAILABLE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY HAD TO BUY.

PUT THEM IN A FISH BAGY, COUPLE GALLONS OF WATER, CHARGE IT WITH OXYGEN, PUT IT IN A BOX, GIVE THEM INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PUT THEMACK INTO THEIR POND AND SEND THEM ON THEIR WAY.

WE STARTED OFFERING BIGGER FISH AND SINCE WE'VE BEEN DOING THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING FISH LIKE THEY NEVER HAVE BEFORE.

TRAUT FARMING HAS GOT CHORES JUST LIKE ANY OTHER TYPE OF FARMING.

OCTOBER THROUGH MAY WE'RE HATCHING EGGS.

HAVE YOU TOPEND A LOT OF TIME WITH THEM.

YOU HAVE TO CONTINUALLY PICK THE DEAD EGGS OUT OR THEY'RE GOING TO CONTAMINATE THE LIFE EGGS.

THE HAZARDS OF THE TRAIT.

EN I FIRST STARTED DOING THIS ONE FELLOW TOLD ME, BOB, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE A FISH FARMER UNTIL YOU LOSE AT LEAST A MILLION FISH.

NOW HERE I HAD MY FIRST 17,000 FISH SWIMMING AND I WAS CONCERNED WITH ONE OF THEM GETTING SICK.

THIS GUY WAS TELLING ME YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD FARMER UNTIL YOU LOSE A MILLION.

IN VERMONT POWER FAILURES CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME, ANY DAY, USUALLY ANY NIGHT.

THE WORSE THING THAT COULD HAPPEN, ALL THE WELLS GO DOWN, NO NOTIFICATION, THE WATER STOPS.

WITHIN AN HOUR'S TIME EVERY FISH THAT I OWN COULD B DEAD.

SITUATION LIKE THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF I'D BE HERE THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

IT'S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT EVERYBODY THAT BUYS FISH IN VERMONT, IF THEY KNOW THEY CAN BUY THEM HAVE A VERMONT RAISED SOURCE, THEY'D START BUYING THEM THERE IMMEDIATELY.

WITH THE AMOT OF FISH WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW, WE CAN BALANCE THE BUDGET.

I WOD LIKE TO INCREASE MY CROP.

I THINK THAT I COULD MOVE MORE.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ROOM IN THE STATE OF VERMONT FOR AQUACULTURE.

>> NEW FORMS OF AGRICULTURE TAKE TIME TO DEVELOP.

ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT DIVERSIFICATION IS THAT EVEN IF YOU CAN FIND A NICHE AND MAKE IT WORK, THERE MAY ONLY BE ROOM ENOUGH IN THE MARKET FOR JUST A FEW PLAYERS.

THIS IS WHERE INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIES COME IN TO PLAY.

>> I GREW UP IN NEW YORK CITY.

I LIVED THERE ALL MY LIFE.

I REACHED A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE I WANTED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> IN 1988, JOE DELFINO CAME TO STRAFFORD, VERMONT, AND BOUGHT A FARM.

HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT FARMING EXCEPT THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE MONEY AT IT.

>> WHEN WE GOT HERE, IT WAS MORE THE PLACE, THE FARM THAT WAS THE DRAW, AND LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE THE FARM A PROFITABLE ENTERPRISE, WE CAME ACROSS DEER FARMING.

DEER FARMING HAS A REAL MARKET FOR ITS ULTIMATE ODUCT,, VENISON.

IT'S HEALTHY FOR, YOU IT'S LOW FAT, HIGH IN PROTEIN, RELATIVELY LOW IN CHOLESTEROL.

>> IN THE U.S.

TODAY THERE ARE 750 DEER FARMS, 30 OF WHICH ARE LOCATED IN VERMONT.

IN 1993, AMERICANS ATE MORE THAN 2 MILLION POUNDS OF VENISON.

70% WAS IMPORTED FROM NEW ZEALAND.

DEER FARMING IS CLEARLY A BECKONING MARKETPLACE.

>> DEER ARE FAR MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN BEEF ANIMALS ARE ONHE LAND.

THEY CAN GIVE YOU A MUCH GREATER RETURN FOR YOUR INVESTMENT IN THE LAND AND REQUIRE VERY LITTLE EFFORT TO MANAGE ON A DAY TO DAY BAY BASIS.

OUR HERD IS BUILT UP TO WHERE WE HAVE OVER 200 ANIMALS AND NOW HAVE BEEN 90 ACRES FENC IN FOR PASTURE.

THE FIRST THING YOU LEARN IS THAT THESE ARE UNLIKE OTHER DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK.

THEY ARE A WILD CREATURE AND THEY NEED SPECIAL HANDLING, THEY NEED SPECIAL SENSITIVITY.

YOU REALLY NEED TO OUTTHINK THEM, ANTICIPATE WHAT THEY MIGHT DO AS YOU ROUND THEM UP.

THEY'RE FAST.

THEY CAN JUMP, AND THEY CAN HURT THEMSELVES IF YOU'RE NOT MANAGING THEM PROPERLY.

I THINK THE MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE IS JUST HOW REALLY NICE THE ANIMALS ARE.

IT'S REALLY ON THEIR TERMS THAT THEY'RE FRIENDLY, THEY'LL COUNSEL AND EAT OUT OF YOUR HAND.

I HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

IN THE MORNING I'M OUT WITH THE ANIMALS.

IT TES ME 30INUTES A DAY TO FD OUR HERD AND THEN I SPEND PROBABLY 80% OF MY DAY MARKETING AND SELLING THE VENISON PRODUCTS.

I GOT INTO MARKETING THE VENISON BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IN AN AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE THE ONE THING THAT ALWAYS DOES IN THE FARMER IS CONTROLLING THE END PRODUCT, AND I AM DETERMINED, WAS DETERMINED, TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT AS MUCH AS I CAN I CAN CONTROL OUR PRODUCT GOING TO MARKET.

I QUICKLY REALIZED ONCE WE STARTED MARKETING THE VENISON PRODUCED HERE AT THE FARM, THAT THE DEMAND FAR OUTSTRIPPED OUR ABILITY TO SUPPLY IT.

>> DELFINO CURRENTLY BUYS VENISON FROM 15 FARMERS IN NEW ENGLAND AND NEW YORK.

WITH VENISON CONSUMPTION INCREASING THESE DAYS BY 25% A YEAR, DELFINO HOPES TO MARKET MORE AND MORE OF HIS PRODUCT.

>> THIS FIELD HAS A LOT OF POTENTIAL FOR FARMERS RIGHT NOW, AND I WOULD SAY AND WELCOME PEOPLE GETTING IN BECAUSE WE RIGHT NOW ARE PRODUCING AND SELLING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, AND I SEE THE DEMAND JUST CONTINUING TO RISE.

THE FUTURE OF FARMING HERE IN VERMONT I THINK IS VERY MUCH TO CAPITALIZE ON THE EXCELLENT REPUTATION VERMONT HAS FOR ITS PRODUCTS.

TO COMPETE WITH AGRI-BUSINESS, YOU'RE COMPETING ON PRICE ALONE.

HERE WE CAN PRODUCE THE QUALITY THAT DISCONTINUING WITCHES US IN THE MARKETPLACE AND TIME AND TIME AGAIN IT HAS COME TO ME THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PAY IF THEY'RE GETTING A QUALITY PRODUCT.

THAT'S WHERE VERMONT FARMERS NEED TO FOCUS.

>> VERMONT FARMERS CAN GET MORE MONEY FOR QUALITY PRODUCTS, ONES THAT ARE PROCESSED INTO SPECIALTY FOODS, UPSCALE TASTE TREATS THAT COMMAND A HIGHER PRICE IN THE MARKETPLACE.

YOU NAME IT, VERMONTERS SELL IT AND GET MORE MONEY FOR IT.

ONE PLACE THAT TAKES SPECIALTY FOODS SERIOUSLY IS THE VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

SINCE 1991,ERRY KELLY HAS HELPED HUNDREDS OF VERMONT ENTREPRENEURS MARKET THEIR SPECIALTY PRODUCTS.

>> WE STARTED WITH ONE SMALL JAM COMPANY.

TODAY WE HAVE NEARLY 300 COMPANIES MAKING THESE FOODS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN ALL 50 STATES WITH MANY OF OUR PRODUCTS.

WE ARE IN 27, 28 FOREIGN COUNTRIES GROWING ALL THE TIME.

OUR SALES HAVE GROWN AT A COMPOUNDED RATE OF 16% ANNUALLY RIGHT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE RECENT RECESSION, AND THEY'RE CONTINUING TO CLIMB.

>> WITH THESE KINDS OF NUMBERS, IT'S OBVIOUS WHY SO MANY VERMONTERS ARE HOPPING ON THE SPECIALTY FOODS BANDWAGON.

IN 1989, CHRISTINE AND DAVE HUME BEGAN MAKING GREEN MOUNTAIN GRINGO SALSA IN THE KITCHEN OF THEIR HOME.

LAST YEAR THEIR SALES GROSS WAS OVER $1.

2 MILLION.

>> THE SPECIALTY FOOD INDUSTRY IS REALLY GROWING AND I THINK IT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE IN THE STATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF EXCELLENT PRODUCTS THAT COME OUT OF HERE AND THERE'S A HUGE MARKET OUT THERE.

THE RECEPTION HAS BEEN VERY GOOD, AND I THINK IT HAS A LOT OF ROOM TO GROW.

>> THE HUMES NEED A LOT OF FRESH VEGETABLES FOR THEIR SALSA, ONIONS, PARSELY, PEPPERS, BUT MOST OF THE YEAR IT'S PRODUCE THEY DON'T BUY FROM VERMONT FARMERS.

NOBODY KNOWS JUST HOW MUCH VERMONT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT IS ACTUALLY IN VERMONT SPECIALTY FOODS, BUT CRITICS ARGUE THAT THE AMOUNT IS SMALL.

CRITICS LIKE BRUCE KUF MAN OF EAST HARDWICK.

>> I SEE A LOT OF THINGS ON THE CHEF SAYING SEAL OF HAVE VERMONT AGRICULTURE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PRODUCTS THAT HAVE A LOT OF INGREDIENTS SHIPPED IN, HALL MEAN YES PEPPERS, ON JOHNS, TOMATOES.

THE PRODUCER BRINGS IT INTO VERMONT, REOPENS THE CAN, PUTS IT INTO THEIR CAN WITH THEIR LABEL WITH A VERMONT ADDRESS AND THEN SELLS IT AS A VERMONT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT.

VERMONT GROWN PRODUCT MEANS THAT IT HAS TO BE PRODUCED HERE IN VERMONT.

>> WE HAVE TO PUT THIS TOGETHER IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MEANS WE CAN SO WE CAN GET IT ON THE MARKET AND ON THE CHEF AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE.

WE USE DIFFERENT MARKETS AROUND THE COUNTRY WHEN THE CROPS ARE IN.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO COME OUT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE LONGEST GROWG SEASON THERE.

WE ALSO GET SOME OF OUR PRODUCE OUT OF NEW JERSEY AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF IT OUT OF VERMONT WHEN THE CROP IS IN.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD FOR US TO USE GREATER PERCENTAGE OF PRODUCE FROM VERMONT BECAUSE THE GROWING SEASON HERE IS A LIMITING FACTOR THAT YOU CAN'T CHANGE.

I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THERE ARE A LOT OF OBSTACLES, ONE OF THOSE IS COST AND ONE IS SUPPLY, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE RESOURCE BASE THAT'S BEING USED TO PRODUCE THE RAW INGREDIENTS FOR THOSE SPECIALTY FOOD PRODUCTS, SUCH AS THE TOMATOES FOR A SALSA PRODUCT THAT'S MARKETED IN VERMONT.

ARE THOSE TOMATOES FROM VERMONT?

IF THEY'RE FROM OUT OF STATE THAT NOT REALLY HELPING VERMONT'S AGRICULTURAL BASE.

>> SOME OF OUR CRITICS HAVE INDICATED WE SPEND TOO MUCH TIME WORKING WITH PRODUCT THAT ISN'T ANCHORED HERE IN VERMONT.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S REALLY FAIR.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE OVERALL ECONOMIC VALUE, NUMBER ONE, I THINK YOU'LL FIND THAT OUR EFFORTS ARE TARGETED AT VERMONT-BASED PRODUCTS.

I THINK OUR SPECIALTY FOOD INDUSTRY BODES VERY WELL.

>> WE HAVE BEEN CONTACT THE BY A LOT OF VERMONT FARMERS LOOKING FOR MARKETS FOR THEIR PRODUCTS FINDING OUT WHAT WE USE IN OUR PRODUCT AND WHAT THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GROW FOR US.

ASONG AS THE FARMERS ARE AGGRESSIVE IN FINDING MARKETS LIKE THIS AND CAN GROW IT AT A FAIRLY REASONABLE PRICE AND AT A GOOD, THEY CAN EXPAND THE TYPES OF CROPS THAT THEY GROW FOR THE SPECIALTY INDUSTRY.

>> IF WE PLAY OUR CARDS RIGHT, WE'RE INNOVATIVE, WE SEIZE MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY ARISE, WE MOVE INTO THESE NICHE MARKETS WHEN THEY'RE STILL NICHES, YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT WHERE OUR SPECIALTY FOODS HAVE GONE, VERMONT AGRICULTURE WILL FOLLOW.

>> I HAVE BEEF COWS.

I BREED THEM.

>> ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECTS OF VERMONT'S CHANGING AGRICULTURAL IDENTITY IS THE EMERGENCE OF THE PART-TIME FARMER.

MARJORIE MAJOR IS ONE OF A GROWING NUMBER OF VERMONTERS WHO ARE PROVING THAT AGRICULTURE CAN FLOURISH IN SUBURB BY YEAH.

>> WE HAD A HOUSE AND A LOT OF LAND, AND I WANTED TO KEEP THE LAND CLEAR.

ABOUT THE ONLY WAY TO DO THAT IS WITH SOME CATTLE, SO I STARTED WITH TWO COWS AND TWO CALVES AND WENT FROM THERE.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF CATTLE OPERATIONS.

MINE IS WHAT YOU CALL A COW CALF OPERATION.

IN MARCH THEY HAVE THEIR CALVES AND THEN IN THE FALL I SELL THE CALVES.

THE COWS ARE BRED, KEEPS ON GOING LIKE THAT.

YOU HAVE TO AVE SOME HAY.

YOU CAN EITHER BUY HAY OR DO YOUR OWN HAY.

I DO ROUND BALES SO THAT'S QUITE SIMPLE.

OTHER THAN THAT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF FEEDING.

IT'S REALLY NOT THAT MUCH TROUBLE.

YOU MAKE HAY IN THE SUMMERTIME, YOU FEED THE CATTLE IN THE WINTERTIME AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.

OF COURSE THERE'S THE CALVING, AND THAT CAN BE PRETTY INTERESTING.

YOU HAVE TO BE KEEPING TRACK OF THINGS AT NIGHTTIME, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE THERE IF THE COW HAS A PROBLEM, BUT BY AND LARGE IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT.

YOU CAN ALWAYS EXPAND YOUR HERD AND HAVE MORE NUMBERS.

NOW I HAVE 20 LOOKING FOR 24, AND I THINK I'LL PROBABLY STAY JUST ABOUT THAT NUMBER.

I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER GOING TO BE AATTER OF RAKING IN A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF BUCKS, BUT I CERTAINLY PLAN TO HAVE PROFIT AT THIS.

I DON'T DO IT JUST FOR FUN AND GAMES.

IT SUITS MY NEEDS VERY WELL.

IT KEEPS MY LAND OPEN, IT KEEPS ME OUTSIDE, IT'S KEEPING VERMONT LOOKING BEAUTIFUL.

>> FARMERS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WHO FIND BEEF PRODUCTION ATTRACTIVE.

THE STATE OF VERMONT HAS RECENTLY GOTTEN INHE ACT TOO BY HELPING SPONSOR REGULAR BEEF SALES.

THE QUESTION OF JUST HOW BIG CAN THIS GET IS AS INTRIGUING AS THE FACT OF HOW BIG IT ALREADY IS.

>> BEEF IS THE SECOND LARGEST AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN THE STA.

IT'S A $60 MILLION INDUSTRY.

EASILY NINE TENTHS OF THE BEEF IS FROM THE DAIRY SECTOR.

WE DO ON THE OTHER HAND, HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE RAISING BEEF ON A FULL-TIMEASIS.

COW CALF OPERATORS WHO ARE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME FINDING MARKETS FOR THEIR BEEF, A LOT OF THEM WERE HAVING TO MOVE THEIR CATTLE OUT OF STATE TO GET THE TYPE OF PRICES THAT THEY FELT THEY DESERVED.

RAISING BEEF IS NOT A HIGH MARGIN BUSINESS.

THOSE THAT ARE MAKING MONEY AT IT TEND TO BE THE LARGER PRODUCERS BECAUSE IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO MAKE IT WITH SMALL OPERATION.

THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE A LOT OF PART-TIME PEOPLE IN THIS BUSINESS.

BY CREATING SALES OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS, WE ARE MAKING IT MORE PROFITABLE FOR THEM.

>> THIS SALE IS CO-SPONSORED BY THE STATE OF VERMONT, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND THE VERMONT BEEF PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION.

WE WORK IN COLLABORATION ON THESE SALES.

SO FAR THEY'VE WORKED VERY WELL.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THE FOLKS THAT HAVE COME IN TO BUY CATTLE TODAY.

>> WHAT BEGAN AS A MARKETING EXPERIMENT FOR STATE AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK PROMOTERS HAS BECOME AN ANNUAL INSTITUTION FOR VERMONT'S BEEF GROWING COMMUNITY.

>> IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO SELL THEIR CATTLE AT A LARGE SALE THAT BRINGS IN BUYERS FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE, AND THEY CAN POOL THOSE CATTLE AND GET TOP DOLLAR.

TODAY WE SAW PRICES BEING SOLD RIGHT AT THE NATIONAL PRICES.

WE'LL BE BRINGING IN PEOPLE FROM THE MIDWEST.

THAT'S WHERE CATTLE PRICES ORIGINATE, AND THEY'RE PAYING T HIGHEST PRICES IN THE WORLD FOR BEEF.

IF WE CAN GET THOSE BUYERS IN HERE, SO MUCH THE BETTER.

>> CATTLE PEOPLE, THEY'RE VERY PRICE CONSCIOUS.

IF THEY CAN BUY THEM SOMEWHERE AND GET THEM TRUCKED IN AND NOT HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS, THEY'LL BUY THEM ANYWHERE, BE IT CANADA, VERMONT OR NEBSKA.

>> I OWN A LIVESTOCK MARKET BACK IN NE BSS SKACHLT A FRIEND OF MINE THAT HAS MOVED TO VERMONT TRIED TO GET ME TO COME OUT.

I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T THINK I NEEDED TO GO 1500 MILES TO BUY CATTLE.

AFTER THE SALE HE SENT ME A SUMMARY OF THE SALE SHEET AND THE LOOKED GOOD, THE PRICES SEEMED ATTRACTIVE, SO WE THOUGHT WE'D TRY IT THIS YEAR.

THE CATTLE THAT I BOUGHT TODAY WILL PROBABLY GO TO 5 DIFFERENT PRODUCERS.

IF THEY GET ALONG HEALTH WISE I'M SURE THAT NEXT YEAR THAT THEY'LL WANT TO TRY SOME MORE.

>> I THINK THAT WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE BEEF BEING RAISED IN THE STATE.

IN VERMONT WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF DAIRY FARMS THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE HEADED OUT.

WE'VE HAD A NUMBER THAT HAVE GONE OUT OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, AND WE'VE GOT THAT AVAILABLE FORAGE.

THAT IS A VALUABLE COMMODITY.

I THINK THAT WE DO HAVE A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES HERE AND THAT THE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM.

>> AS PROMISING A ROLE AS IT HAS IN VERMONT'S AGRICULTURAL FUTURE, BEEF PRODUCTION IS STILL OVERSHADOWED BY DAIRY FARMING.

NOW MOST OF US THINK OF DAIRY OPERATIONS AS SMALL, FAMILY AFFAIRS OF 100 OR SO COWS, A TRADITIONAL BARN, A COUPLE OF SILOS AND A FEW HUNDRED ACRES OF CROP LAND.

WELL, GET READY TO HAVE YOUR EYES OPENED.

THIS IS THE NELSON FARM IN IRASBURG, VERMONT.

OVER 5,000 COWS, HEIFERS AND CALVES ARE BRED, RAISED AND MILKED HERE ON HOLDINGS OF OVER 4,000 ACRES.

THOUGH THIS IS BY FAR VERMONT'S LARGEST DAIRY FARM, ITS SIZE IS LESS UNIQUE BY NATIONAL STANDARDS.

THE SCALE OF FARMING HAS BEEN QUIETLY CHANGING, AND WITH IT THE GEOGRAPHIC CENTER OF GRAVITY IN THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

>> OOT LAND IN CALIFORNIA'S CENTRAL VALLEY IS VAST, SUN DRENCHED, WARM THE YEAR ROUND AND BLESSED WITH CHEAP WATER.

THE SAME ATTRIBUTES THAT ONCE MADE THIS AMERICA'S FRUIT BASKET HAVE IN RECENT YEARS MADE IT THE NATION'S NUMBER ONE MILK PRODUCING REGION.

HERE DAIRY FARMS ARE CALLED RANCHS AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT THE STUFF OF NORMAN ROCKWELL PAINTINGS, BUT THEY ARE THE MOST HIGHLY EVOLVED MILK PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD.

>> I'VE BEEN ON A PRETTY NATURAL PROGRESSION OF EXPANSION.

I THINK I STARTED WITH 250 COWS.

THEN LATER I WENT FROM A 1500 COW DAIRY TO THIS FACILITY WHICH I CAN MILK ABOUT 2200 COWS ON.

RIGHT AROUND 2,000 COW DAIRY WAS SOMETHING THAT LOOKED GOOD TO ME.

3 AND 4,000 COW DAIRIES CAN ALMOST GET OUT OF CONTROL.

A SMALL PROBLEM CAN JUST ESCALATE INTO A DISASTER OVERNIGHT VERY EASILY, AND YET I WANTED TO BE LARGE ENOUGH TO REALLY BE COMPETITIVE IN CALIFORNIA.

WE OPERATE ON LARGER SCALES THAN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

>> WELCOME TO THE KING SIZED WORLD OF WESTERN DARYING WHERE BARNS ARE OPEN AIR AND A QUARTER MILE LONG, MANURE PITS ARE LARGER THAN FOOTBALL FIELDS AND COWS GET A COMPLENTARY FULL BODY SHOWER ON THEIR WAY TO THE MILKING PARLOR.

>> WHEN WE DESIGNED THE DAIRY I HAD THE HELP OF A DAIRY DESIGNER WHO'S TRAINED IN THIS, AND WE WANTED TO MAXIMIZE COW COMFORT.

WE LAID IT OUT SO THAT THE COWS WOULD BE AS CLOSE TO THE BARN AS POSSIBLE, THE MILKING FACILITY, THE BARN ITSELF, WE BUILT LARGE WASH PIN, HOLDING PEN.

EVERYTHING WAS DESIGNED TO GET THE COWS INTO THE BARN COMFORTFULLY AND AS FAST AS POSSIBLE AND GET THEM OUT AGAIN.

THE MILK WHOSE IS THE OPERATIONAL FOCAL POINT AND THE MASTER PIECE OF THIS IF A SICHLT BENEATH THE BRIGHT SPAN NIRBD TILED ROOF OF THE ONLY ACTUAL FARM BUILDING IS AN AUTOMATED STATE OF THE ART 60 COW MILKING PARLOR THAT'S IN OPERATION FOR ALL ABOUT 8 HOURS A DAY.

>> MANAGE A DAIRY OF THIS SIZE, MY JOB AS THE OWNER ANDANAGER CHANGES.

MY JOB MORE IS OF TRAINING MY PEOPLE TO DO THINGS THE WAY I WANT THEM DONE AND JUST MANAGING LABOR.

>> YOU'LL SELDOM FIND THE OWNER OF THIS FARM MILKING.

>> I'M STILL DRYING UP COWS, PULLING CALVES, ALL THE NORMAL THINGS BUT NOT NECESSARILY ME MYSELF.

>> ASIDE FROM SOME OCCASIONAL HANDS ON PARLOR SIDE RECORD KEEPING, MOST OF THIS FARMER'S WORK HAPPENS HERE.

>> THE FINANCIAL END OF THE BUSINESS IS WHAT I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME ON.

MAKING CONTRACTS AND BUYING THE FEED, JUST MANAGING THINGS.

>> MANAGING A MAFARM HAS BE COMPARED TO RUNNING A FACTORY.

EVERYTHING IS DESIGNED TO TAKE FULLEST ADVANTAGE OF SCALE.

THIS IS A WELL-TUNED MACHINE OF MASS PRODUCTION WHERE THE ONE AND ONLY OBJECT AND THE ONLY HARVEST IS MILK.

IT WOULD TAKE MANY TIMES THE 480 ACRES HERE TO PROVIED HOME GROWN FORAGE FOR HIS HERD, SO SCHEENSTRA SIMPLY DOESN'T BOTHER.

>> JUST DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES HERE.

WE DON'T GROW OUR OWN FEED SO MUCH.

WE'RE BUYING EVERYTHING.

I BUY MY TEAT DIP IN LARGE QUANTITI AT ONCE.

THESE ARE 275 GALLON CONTAINERS.

THE MOST COMMON METHOD AROUND HERE IS TO BUY 55 GALLON DRUMS, BUT WITH A LARGE OPERATION, I GO THROUGH A LOT.

I SAVE ABOUT 75 CENTS A GALLON BY BUYING IT THIS WAY.

>> ECONOMIES OF SCALE APPLY TO EVERY ASPECT THE FARM'S OPERATION, EVEN THE MOST MUNDANE.

>> I HAVE FOUR VACUUM PUMPS IN LINE HERE.

ONE IS SPARE, BUT THE THREE THAT OPERATE, THE H AIR EXHAUST CIRCULATES THROUGH A HEAT EXCHANGER AND HEATS MY HOT WATER FOR THE OPERATION.

I USE PROBABLY 1500 GALLONS OF HOT WATER EVERY DAY, AND IT'S ALL HEATHED FREE.

>> OOT MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER IN THE EFFICIENCY GAME IS OFTEN THE MOST OVERLOOKED, BUT NOT HERE.

>> WE'VE HAD EACH COW WEARING A RADIO TRANSPONDER.

FROM THAT WE GET A MILK WEIGHT OF EVERY COW AT EVERY MILKING AND THE LENGTH OF MILKING, WHAT TIME SHE WAS MILKED, AND THAT ALL GOES TO THE COMPUTER.

WE GET A GRAPH THAT WILL SHOW YOU WHAT SHE'S DONE ON ANY INDIVIDUAL DAY.

>> CRITICS OF INDUSTRIALIZED AGRICULTURE WOULDONTEND THAT THERE'S MUCH INHERENTLY WRONG WITH STEVEN SCHEENSTRA STYLE OF FARMING, THAT IT'S IMPERSONAL AND EXPLOITTIVE OF OTHERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT AS THIS AND OTHER FARMS LIKE IT CONTINUE TO OPERATE PROFITABLY AND FURTHER EXPAND, THERE WILL BE LESS REASON FOR ADITIONAL DAIRY FARMING TO EXIST.

>> I'M IN BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY.

I GUESS THAT'S EVERYONE'S BOTTOM LINE, AND SOMETIMES THAT MEANS MILKING MORE COWS AND SOMETIMES IT MEANS OTHER THINGS.

TO STAY COMPETITIVE YOU'VE GOT TO HANG ON AND STAY ON FOR THE RIDE.

>> IT'S STAKEEN MORE THAN INEXPENSIVE LAND AND SUBSIDIZED WATER TO FUEL THE WESTERN DAIRY BOOM.

THE CURRENT HIGH LEVEL OF MILK PRODUCTION WOULD BE POINTLESS WITHOUT AN ADEQUATE LOCAL PROCESSING INFRASTRUCTURE.

IN OTHER WORDS, MILK PLANTS BIG ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE VOLUME, PLANTS LIKE THIS ONE.

>> DAIRYMAN'S COOPERATIVE CREAMERYSSOCIATION IS THE LARGEST SINGLE PLANT SITE IN THE UNITED STATES.

TWO LAYER RECOUNTY IS THE LARGEST MILK PRODUCING COUNTY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DAIRYMAN'S IS A PART OF THAT.

>> ACTUALLY 4 SPECIALIZED PLANTS ON A SINGLE 40-ACRE SITE, DAIRYMAN'S CO-OP IS ONE OF SEVERAL MAMMOTH PROCESSORS WHOSE FORTUNES ARE LINKED TO THE LOCAL DAIRY EXPANSE CRAZE.

>> WE HAVE ALWAYS TALKED TO OUR PRODUCERS.

THEY'VE COMMUNICATED WITH MANAGEMENT, AND AS THEY HAVE NEEDED OR WANTED TO GROW, WE HAVE BUILT MARKETS OR BUILT PHYSICAL FACILITIES TO HANDLE THAT MILK.

>> MILK ARRIVES HERE 24 HOURS A DAY.

EACH WEEK NEARLY 9 MILLION GALLONS ARE RECEIVED AND PROCESSED.

A THIRD OF IT GOES INTO FLUID PRODUCTS DESTINED FOR THE LUCRATIVE LOS ANGELES MARKET.

ANOTHER PORTION IS SKIM TO MAKE BUTTER AND CHEESE.

THE REMAININSKIM PORTION IS THEN DIVERTED INTO ONE OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST MILK DRYING FACILITIES.

THE RESULTING POWDERED MILK IS A HANDY SOLUTION FOR DISPOSING OF MILK SURPLUSES.

IT'S A VERSATILE FOOD MANUFACTURING INGREDIENT THAT'S EASILY HANDLED AND STORED.

IT'S ALSO A PET TARGET OF CRITICS OF AMERICAN FOOD POLICY WHO CHARGE PROCESSORS WITH DUMPING SURPLUSES RESULTING FROM OVERPRODUCTION.

>> IN OUR PARTICULAR CASE, IN THREE YEARS WE'VE NOT SOLD ANY POWDER TO THE U.S.

GOVERNMENT.

>> MANY OTHER PROCESSORS NATIONWIDE HAVE HAD TO COMPENSA FOR THEIR SURPLUSES BY SELLING POWDER AT CUT-RATE PRICES, BUT HERE AT DAIRYMAN'S, AT LEAST FOR NOW ALL YOU'LL HERE IS BULLISHNESS.

>> WE'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC.

WE'RE GLAD WE'RE LOCATED HERE AND WE SEE TREMENDOUS PO TENSION NAL GROWTH FOR T ONLY OUR MEMBERS BUT FOR THE DAIRY INDUSTRY.

>> BUT NOT EVERYONE IN THE WEST IS EXCITED ABOUT GROWTH.

>> THE PROBLEMS WITH GETTING LARGER IS THERE'S NO END TO GETTING LARGER.

>> FARMING IS ANOTHER OF CALIFORNIA'S 3 DAIRY REGIONS, LOREN LOPES IS ONE OF MANY CALIFORNIA FARMERS WHO CONSIDER EXPANSION A VICIOUS CYCLE.

>> YOU ADD ON MORE LABOR AND YOU NEED MORE LAND, AND YOU HAVE MORE DEBT AND THE PRICE DROPS AND THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT ON MORE COWS.

AS YOU GET BIGGER YOU HAVE A PEOPLE MANAGEMENT PROBLEM THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK ON AND BECOME MORE OF A PEOPLE MANAGER THAN A FARMER.

IT KEEPS YOU AWAY FROM YOUR ACTUALARMING.

>> EVEN IN CALIFORNIA THERE CAN BE ECONOMIC DETERRENTS TO FARM EXPANSION, LIKE MORE AFFLUENT NEIGHBORS.

>> TO THE NORTH OF ME I HAVE A VINEYARD, AND TO THE WEST OF ME I HAVE A PEACH ORCHARD THAT USED TO BE A DAIRY FARM.

TO THE SOUTH I HAVE TREES, SO IT PROHIBITS ME FROM BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE THAT TYPE OF LAND FOR A DAIRY EXPANSION.

>> IRONICALLY CALIFORNIA'S 250 COW RANCHS PROVIDED THE ORIGINAL INSPIRATION FOR THE WESTERN MEGAFARM.

HERE COWS HAVE LONG SPENT THEIR LIVES BEING MOVED AMONG A MAZE OF OPEN AIR, CONCRETE HOLDING AND FEEDING PENS, WHICH ARE AUTOMATICALLY CLEANED THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF PIPED IN FREE WATER.

THE QUESTION OF DEPENDENCE ON SUBSIDIZED WATER PERMEATES DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE LONG RANGE VIABILITY OF WESTERN FARMING AS DOES THE ISSUE OF WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT WER ONCE IT'S USED.

>> IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENT THAT EVERY DAIRY FARM HAVE A LAGOON POND THAT WILL BE ADEQUATE TO HOLD HIS WASTEWATER SUPPLY.

>> AT THIS SCALE OF FARMING, WASTE SELDOM POSES AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD.

OF REAL CONCERN AMONG ENVIRONMENTAL LISTS AND AGRICULTURAL FORECASTERS ARE THE MULTIACRE MANURE PITS OF MUCH LARGER FARMS TO THE SOUTH, AND THE WESTERN RELIANCE ON DISTANT WATER THAT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE SO CHEAP.

>> SOME OF THE AREAS WHICH CURRENTLY BEAT US IN TERMS OF PRODUCING MILK AT A LOW COST, THOSE SYSTEMS ARE VERY INTENSIVE.

IF YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE ENSUING COST FRS PRODUCING MILK IN CALIFORNIA IF TERMS OF POTENTIAL MANURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, COSTS OF WATER, SO ON AND SO FORTH, THAT MILK MIGHT NOT BE AS CHEAP AS YOU THINK IT IS.

IT'S HOW YOU DO THE ECONOMICS.

>> I THINK EVERY REGION OF THE COUNTRY ESTABLISHES AN ECONOMIC UNIT.

TO SAY THAT 1,000 COW DAIRY FARMER IS GOING TO BE BETTER OFF, MAYBE HE IS AND MAYBE HE ISN'T.

I DON'T THINK THE ISSUE IS WHETHER CALIFORNIA OR VERMONT, WHICH AREA OR REGION'S GOING TO SURVIVE.

GOOD COWS AND GOOD MANAGEMENT WILL SUCCEED ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY IN ANY REGION IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IT DOES COST MORE TO MAKE MILK IN VERMONT COMPARED WITH OTHER REGIONS OF THE NATION.

OUR WINTERS ARE LONG AND COLD AND HOUSING FOR DAIRY CATTLE MORE EXPENSIVE.

GRAIN FOR OUR FEED HAS TO BE TRANSPORTED FROM REGIONS THAT PRODUCE IT,ND EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY COSTS ARE HR FOR SMA PRODUCERS WHO CAN'T BUY IN LARGE QUANTITIES.

IF YOUR COSTS ARE HIGHER, IT MAKES SENSE TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY FOR YOUR PRODUCT, AND THAT'S JUST WHAT NEW ENGLAND DAIR FARMERS ARE DOI.

THE NORTHEAST DRY C WOD AOWHE v NEW ENGLAND STES TO SET A MINIM PRICE ABOVE THE CURRENT FEDERALLY MANDATED PRICE.

IN THE PAST 6 YEARS, THE COMPACT HAS BEEN APPROVED IN ALL THE NEW ENGLAND STATE LEGISLATURES.

NOW IT'S UP TO CONGRESS TO MAKE IT LAW, BUT THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN.

>> YOU'VE GOTTEN MISS OUT THRCHLT WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, WHO WANT US TO HAVE ONE PRICE FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

THEY SEE THIS AS A REAL THREAT.

>> THE NEW ENGLAND DAIRY COMPACT FACES A GREAT DEAL OF SKEPTICISM FROM THE MIDWEST AND FROM CALIFORNIA.

IT'S AN ALMOST INSUR MOUNT TABL HURDLE.

THERE ARE A LOT MORE VOTES.

SIMPLY THE NUMBERS.

THEY'VE GOT MORE PEOPLE THAN WE HAVE.

>> THE MILK INDUSTRY FOUNDATION HAS SENT A BROAD SIDE TO SENATOR BIDEN REALLY CITE I SIZING THE COMPACT FOR A LOT OF POLITICAL REASONS THAT AREN'T TOO WELL FOUNDED IN THE ISSUES.

>> DAIRY COMPACT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DAN SMITH KNOWS THE ODDS FOR SUCCESS ARE SLIM, BUT HIS LOBBYING EFFORT CONTINUES.

>> ABOUT 7,000 BILLS ARE INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS EACH SESSION, AND ABOUT 400 BILLS ARE PASSED.

THE BILL WAS READY TO GO TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE.

WE GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE GRIDLOCK THAT STALLED OUT SO MANY OTHER INITIATIVES AND CONGRESS WENT HOME WITHOUT TAKING ANY ACTION ON THE COMPACT AT ALL.

I THINK WE ALL LEARNED THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A BILL PASSED THROUGH CONGRESS THIS YEAR AND MUCH EASY TOER DEFEAT A BILL, SO BY DEFINITION THE CHANCES OF GETTING A BILL PASSED ARE DIULT.

>> IF AND WHEN THE DAIRY COMPACT BECOMES A REALITY, VERMONT FARMERS CAN COUNT ON A HIGHER RETURN FOR THEIR MILK, BUT MOST CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG.

IF EFFICIENCY ALONE NO LONGER ENSURES A DECENT FARM INCOME, PERHAPS SCALE WILL, BUT A MAJOR FARM EXPANSION CAN BE AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM THESE DAYS, UNLESS YOU HAVE COMPANY.

>> WE WERE BASICALLY AVERAGE TO MID SIZE FARMERS, 70 TO 80 COWS AND WE WERE JUST KIND OF TAKING A LOOK AT THE ECONOMICS OF DAIRYING IN THE LAST 30 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IT AND LOOKING AHEAD.

WE WANTED TO BE IN BUSINESS IN THE NEXT CENTURY AND NOT BE A STATISTIC.

>> WE WERE MAKING A LOT OF MILK.

THE ONLY PROBLEM WASS THAT WE REALLY HADN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT OUR FUTURE GOALS WERE.

IT FINALLY CULL MI NALTED WHEN WE SAT DOWN WITH MY FOLKS AND SAID, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE.

>> OUR SON STUART CAME TO ME AND BASICALLY SAID, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE THE KIND OF LIFE THAT YOU'VE LED ON THE DAIRY FARM HAVING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS 24 HOURS A DAY.

>> WE WERE CARRYING A FAIR AMOUNT OF DEBT AND FINANCIALLY IT JUST DIDN'T LOOK THE WAY WE WANTED IT TO, AND AT THAT POINT MAYBE REALIZED THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE FINANCIAL GOALS TO KEEP US VIABLE AND TO KEEP US IN THE DAIRY BUSINESS.

>> RICHARD HALL AND HIS BROTHER STUART HAD GROWN UP WORKING HERE ON EAST MONTPELIER'S HALLMARK FARM WITH THEIR PARENTS.

RICHARD WAS THE FIRST TO LEAVE HOME.

HE MARRIED BONNIE, AND THE COUPLE MOVED OFF TO NEARBY PICTURE BOOK FARM WHERE THEY WORKED ON THEIR OWN FOR NEARLY FOUR YEARS EXPANDING THEIR HERD BEYOND THE FARM'S LIMITS AND EVENTUALLY LEASING A FARM UP THE ROAD FROM THEIR CLOSE FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR, FORMER VERMONT DAIRY FARMER OF THE YEAR, AUSTIN CLEAVES.

>> I LOOKED AT A LOT OF WAYS OF TRYING TO STAY COMPETITIVE AND BETTER MYSELF ON MY PARTICULAR FARM, AND IT BECAME CLEAR TO ME THAT THE CONSTRAINT ON MY OPERATION WAS NOT HOW WELL I WAS DOING, BUT IT WAS THE SIZE OF MY OPERATION THAT WAS KIND OF PUT A CAP ON IT.

IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU'RE GOING TO DO, AND THAT'S PROBABLY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE.

>> AUSTIN CLEAVES WAS RECEPTIVE TO THE IDEA OF JOINING FORCES, AND SO WE SAT DOWN AND DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITY OF POOLING OUR ASSETS.

THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF FAIRMONT FARM.

>> FOUR FAMILIES AGREED TO PUT EVERYTHING IN ONE POT AND STIR IT UP AND DEVELOP A NEW FARMING ENTERPRISE.

>> ACTUALLY MAKING IT HAPPEN THAT WAS TEN FOLD MORE OF A CHALLENGE THAN I EVER COULD HAVE IMAGINED, AND I WOULD SAY TO ANYBODY THAT WAS EVER CONSIDING DOING THIS THAT, BOY, YOU BETTER BE READY FOR THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF YOUR LIFETIME.

>> AUSTIN CLEAVES' ORIGINAL 75 COW FARM WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL EXPANSION BEGAN WITTHE ERECTION OF A MODERN FREE STALL BN CAPABLE OF HOUSING FAIR MONTH'S 500 COW HERD IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE OF VMONT'S MOST ADVANCED MILKING FACILITIES.

THE NEW PARLOR IS DESIGNED SO THAT THR ONE-PERSON SHIFTS CAN HANDLE A DAY'S MILKING IN 14 HOURS.

>> SO WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE HALL'S HOME FARM?

WELL, WELCOME TO FAIR MONTH FARMS NEW YOUNG STOCK UNIT.

WHEN COMPLETED THE HALLMARK BARN CONVERSION WILL COME MOW DATE SOME 250 CALVES AND HEIFERS DES STIND FOR THE FRONT LINES.

>> NEW SCALES OF FARMING REQUIRE NEW ROLES.

HERE THE FACILITIES AREN'T THE ONLY THINGS THAT ARE SPECIALIZED.

>> THERE'S PLENTY TO DO HERE WITHOUT ANYBODY BEING ABOUT YOUR DOND BY DOING A JOB ON A DAILY BASIS THAT THEY DON'T LIKE DOING.

IT WAS LEFT UP TO PRETTY MUCH WHAT YOU PREFERRED DOING, AND THAT'S HOW WE DECIDED BASICALLY WHO WAS GOING TO DO WHAT.

ROBIN, SHE'S BOOKKEEPER, ACCOUNTANT, BILL PAYER, PAYROLL, EXPERT, WHATEVER, WITH SOME ASSISTANCE FROM DONNA.

JOHN LIKED TO DO VETERINARY WORK, KEEPING THE COWS HEALTHY IN BETWEEN VET VISITS.

STUART WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE FEED AND THE NUTRITION ASPECTS OF IT, AND HE ORDERS ALL THE COMMODITIES AND BALANCE THE RAGS ALONG WITH THE VET.

RICHARD HAD A PARTICULAR AREA OF EXPERTISE WITH EMPLOYEE RELATIONS.

HE'S BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR HIRING AND FIRING.

BONNIE WANTED TO DO SOME MILKING.

SHE LIKES MILKING, AND I LIKE WORKING WITH THE YOUNG CALVES AND HAVE A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THAT.

WHEN WE WENT INTO THIS, WE RECOGNIZED THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN WHAT WE WERE USED TO ON OUR INDIVIDUAL FARMS.

I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS -- JOHN CALLS IT WEARING THE FARM, AND I REALLY LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU'RE ALONE AND MAYBE ONLY HAVE ONE EMPLOYEE OR JUST FAMILY MEMBERS WORKI WITH YOU, YOU WR T FARM EREVEROU GO.

WE TRIED TO GET AWAY FROM THAT,ND WE'RE GOINGO EXPECT THINGS THAT NORMAL WOING PEOPLEAVE COME TO EXCT.

WE A HOME AT 6:00 AT NIGHT, AND IT'S NICE TO HAVE THAT EVENING.

EN YOUR WEEKEND COMES, YOU'RE OFF.

THAT NER HAPPENED BEFORE.

I JUST REALLY ENJOY THAT SO-CALLED NEW FOUND FREEDOM.

I NEVER REALIZED IT I GUESS ALL THE YEARS THAT I DIDN'T HAVE IT, BUT I SURE DO NOW.

>> IT'S JUST TAKEN A LOT OF PRESSURE OFF.

THE STRESS ISN'T THERE.

YOU KNOW THAT YOUR A SHARING EVERYTHING WITH OTHER PEOPLE, THE WHOLE FINANCIAL STRESS, THE WORK SESS.

>> THE SUCCESS OF FAIRMONT FARMS' TRANSFORMATION HAS LESS TO DO WITH MILK PRODUCTION THAN DAIRY ECONOMICS THAN IT DOES WITH PEOPLE.

EVER SINCE THE GROUP'S EARLIEST INCORPORATION MEETINGS, THE REAL SUCCESS STORY HERE HAS BEEN THAT 7 PARTNERS REPRESENTING 4 FAMILIES HAVE MANAGED TO SIMPLY COOPERATE.

>> WE ARE 7 VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND WE'RE DRIVEN BY DIFFERENT GOALS AND DIFFERENT AMBITIONS.

>> WHEN THERE'S MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED, THERE'S MORE PERSONALITIES INVOLVED AND WHEN THERE'S MORE PERSONALITIES INVOLVED, YOU CAN GET INTO SOME PERSONAL CONFLICTS.

>> I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO SEE HOW WE'VE GROWN AS A GROUP AND HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCEPT EACH OTHER AND REALLY MAKE THIS THING WORK.

>> ALONG WITH IMPROVING THEIR OF LIFE WHILE GETTING ALONG, THE GROUP'S LONG-RANGE GOALS ALSO HAPPEN TO INCLUDE PROSPERITY.

>> I'M LOOKING AT A 20% RETURN ON EQUITY ON THIS THING WHEN IT REALLY GETS UP AND ROLLING.

MAYBE NOT EVERY YEAR, BUT I WOULD HOPE IT WOULD AVERAGE OUT THAT.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH UNHEARD OF ON MOST SMALLER FARMS.

>> LIKE THE MEGAFARMS OF THE WEST, THE HIGH VOLUME PURCHASING NEEDS OF FAIRMONT FARM TRANSLATE INTO BIG SAVINGS.

IT'S CALLED ECONOMIES OF SCALE, AND IT WORKS.

>> WE'RE BUYING GRAIN IN BIG QUANTITIES.

I'M ALSO SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO BUY AT THE BEST PRICE AND TO FORMULATE OUR RATIONS AT THE LEAST COST, AND WN YOU'RE THIS SIZE AND YOU'RE BUYING TRACTOR TRAILER LOADS OF PRODUCT LIKE THAT, YOU CAN FIND SAVINGS IN OTHER WAYS TOO.

IT JUST SEEMS TO KIND OF SNOW BALL.

>> THE ECONOMIC RULES HAVE DRASTICALLY CHANGED FOR DAIRY PRODUCERS.

SOME HAVE RESPONDED WITH DRASTIC CHANGES OF THEIR OWN.

>> THIS WAS OUR WAY OF REACTING TO WHAT WE SEE GOING ON IN THE MARKETPLACE.

WE'VE PRETTY MUCH GIVEN UP HOPING FOR HIGHER MILK PRICES.

WE'VE GOTTEN GOOD AT PRODUCING MILK IN THIS COUNTRY.

I DON'T SEE A DEMAND FOR THE INCREASES IN PRODUCTION THAT WE'RE ABLE TO CARRY OUT, AND BY CING TOGETHER AS WE HAVE AND GETTING MORE EFFICIENT, WE FEEL THAT WE CAN PRODUCE MILK AT A LOWER COST, AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE.

>> IT'S DIFFERENT AND IT HAS TO BE THAT WAY.

WE CAN GET VERY RO MAN PARTICULAR ABOUT THE SMALL FARM AND THE DIVERSIFIED AGRICULTURE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S VERY REALISTIC IN TERMS OF TODAY'S WORLD.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VIABILITY FOR VERMONT DAIRY FARMS, WE NEED TO LOOK AT PROFITABILITY AS THE FIRST THING BECAUSE THE DAIRY FARM CAN DO MANY THINGS RIGHT, BUT IF THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE PROFITABLE, THEY AREN'T GOING TO BE AROUND.

THIS IS ONE OPTION.

>> HERE'S A NEW CHALLENGE.

HERE'S A DIFFERENT WAY TO FARM.

HERE'S A WAY TO SET UP THE FUTURE AND MAKE THE FUTURE LOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE SECURE FOR US HOPEFULLY.

>> SO THIS IS WHAT MANY BELIEVE TO BE THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN DAIRY FARMING.

TO SOME IT'S THE FACE OF THE ENEMY.

THEY'REEARING GET BIG OR GET OUT, YET OTHERS RARD AS SIMPLY ANOTH ECONOMIC CHALLENGE TO BE GAGED AND HEFULLY OVERCOME.

IN FACT, A GROWING NUMBER OF ENTERPRISING VERMONTARMERS INTEND TO TURN THE TABLES ON LARGE SCALE DAIRY PROCTION BY TURNING A THREAT INTO AN OPPORTUNITY.

>> I LOVE MY ANIMALS.

I LOVE THE RELATIONSHIP I HAVE WITH MY COWS.

WE'RE FRIENDS.

>> PETER FLINT IS NOT ABOUT TO BECOME A MEGAFARMER.

IN THE 23 YEARS HE'S COMMITTED TO BREEDING, RAISING AND MILKING PRIZE JERSEY COWS, IT'S MOSTLY BEEN THE INTANGIBLES THAT HAVE PROVIDED HIS REWARD, MOSTLY.

>> SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE WERE TRYING VERY HARD TO GET A HIGH PRODUCTION HERD, BUT IN DOING SO WE WERE BURNING COWS OUT.

WE WERE FEEDING THEM A LOT OF GRAIN.

WE WERE TOTALLY UNSUSTAINABLE.

WE WOULD RAISE CROPS HERE AND SELL THOSE CROPS TO BUY BETTER CROPS FROM ANOTHER FARM.

WE WERE JUST PUSH, PUSH, PUSH, PUSH.

>> WE PUSHED OUR COWS TOWARD PRODUCTION AND TOWARD RECORD SO THAT WE BECAME NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHERE WE WERE.

WE LOVE OUR COWS AND NOTICED THAT THEY WEREN'T HAPPY, AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS STRANGE, BUT THEY WEREN'T HAPPY ANIMALS.

WE WANTED THEM TO BE HAPPY.

>> THE HUMANS WEREN'T VERY HAPPY EITHER.

THEY WERE SEEING THE DAIRY COMMUNITY AROUND THEM DISSIN AT THE GREAT.

>> IN 1976 WHEN WE MOVED DOWN HERE THERE WERE 8 HILL FARMS ON THIS ROAD.

NOW THERE ARE 3.

MY NEIGHBOR HAD JERSEY COWS UP THE ROAD.

SHE SOLD OUT.

THE GENTLEMAN OVER THE HILL SOLD OUT, AND ANOTHER FELLOW MOVED ALL OF HIS COWS TO A MUCH LARGER FARM.

THIS PRETTY MUCH TIPPED US OFF THAT IT WAS TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE.

>> WE BOTTLED MILK FOR A WHILE AND THEN WE WERE HEADED TOWARD YOGURT AND PULLED BACK FROM BOTH OF THOSE.

WE DECIDED CHEESE WAS THE WAY TO GO.

REALLY IT WA PETER'S BRAINCHILD.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD ALWAYS BEEN IN THE BACK OF HIS HEAD TO DO SOMETHING ORGANIC,.

>> AND SO THE ORGANIC COW WAS BORN, AND THE FLINTS SEIZED THEIR NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC REDEMPTION WITH A ZEAL.

ARMED WITH AN ARMCHAIR CHEESE MAKER'S ARSENAL OF RECIPES AND MOST RECENTLY SOME EXPERT CONSULTING FROM A VET TRAL FRENCH CHEESE MAKER, PETER FLINT HAS DEVELOPED A DISTINCTIVE FARMSTEAD CHEESE OF HIS OWN.

>> CONSISTENCY WAS ALWAYS A BIG FACTOR.

WE'VE BOMBED AND WE'LL BOMB AGAIN BUT WE'RE JUST IN UNCHARTERED WATERS.

THERE AREN'T A LOT OF MODELS OUT THERE FOR US TO FOLLOW.

>> HAVING MASTERED THE PRODUCTION END OF THEIR ENTERPRISE, THE FLINTS ARE NOW KEEPING A SHARP EYE ON THE MARKETPLACE REALITIES THAT SEPARATE TODAY'S DAIRY WINNERS AND LOSERS.

>> IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WAY IN WHICH TO MARKET YOUR PRODUCT, HOW CAN YOU POSSIBLY COMPETE?

MARKETING IS EVERYTHING.

IF YOU CAN'T SELL IT, DON'T MAKE IT.

>> BEING A FARMSTEAD CHEESE HELPED US TO ATTAIN STATUS IN THE SPECIALTY END OF THE FOOD MARKET.

I STEPPED IN AND NAMED IT THERGANIC COW.

I'M PUSHY, SO I MADE IT APPARENT THAT I WAS GOING TO DO THE MARKETING.

PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING US THROUGH MAGAZINES AND THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH.

WE'VE LEARNED AS MUCH FROM THE MARNGT PLACE AS THE MARKETPLACE HAS LEARNED ABOUT US IN THAT SENSE.

WE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR PRODUCT WAS GOI TO GO.

WE ASSUMED IT WOULD BE HEALTH FOOD STORES, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAD GREAT SUCCESS IN SPECIALTY AND GORE MAY FOOD STORES PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT'S A VERMONT, HAND MADE PRODUCT.

THE NAME VERMONT CONNOTES, FRESHNESS, CLEANLINESS, PURITY, ALL KINDS OF IMPORTANT AND RICH THINGS IN THE MARKETPLACE.

WE CAN'T POSSIBLY ANSWER THE MARKETPLACE NEEDS FOR OUR CHEESE.

THIS IS OUR COOLER WHERE IT'S A REALLY COLD 38 DEGREES.

THE CHEESE SITS HERE FOR 2 TO 6 MONTHS BEFORE IT HITS THE GO ROOM.

WE HAVE ABOUT 11,000 POUNDS RIGHT NOW.

SOON WE'LL BE MAKING 10,000 POUNDS PER MONTH.

WE'RE LIMITING OURSELVES ONLY BY OUR PRODUCTION, AND OUR PRODUCTION GOAL AT THIS POINT IS 10,000 POUNDS OF CHEESE PER MONTH WHICH WILL TRIPLE OUR PRODUCTION.

>> THE THRINTS ARE AMONG A GROWING BREED OF NONTRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL ENTREPRENEURS IN VERMONT WHO ARE STAKING THEIR FUTURE ON A REJECTION OF BINESS AS USUAL.

>> MY OPINION IS THAT FARMERS ARE NOT RISK TAKE.

THEY'RE IN IT BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF THE LAND, THE COWS, WHAT THEY'VE KNOWN, WHAT THEY'VE GROWN UP WITH AND THAT DOESN'T PRODU A RISK TAKER, A BUSINESS VENTURER.

>> NO THIS ISN'T A TYPICAL VERMONT FARM, BUT THEN, THESE AREN'T TYPICAL TIMES.

STAGNANT PRICES AND A NATIONAL TREND TOWARD CENTRALIZED LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURE IS MAKING TRADITIONAL STYLES OF FARMING INCREASINGLY IMPRACTICAL.

>> AS GREAT AS WE THINK OUR VERMONT AGRICULTURE SWE STILL ARE VERY SMALL IN THE BIG PICTURE OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE, SO WE ARE REALLY BEING DRIVEN BY FORCES THAT ARE SOMEWHAT BEYOND OUR CONTROL.

>> VERMONT'S CURRENT BOUT WITH THE FORCES OF AGRICULTURAL CHANGE HAS PREDICTABLY EVOKED A WIDE-RANGING COMMENTARY, SOME OF IT NOT VERY ENCOURAGING.

>> THE VERMONT OF THE FUTURE.

A COLLECTION OF THEME PARKS SEPARATED BY CONDO DEVELOPMENTS.

A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING IN TRULY RURAL SITUATIONS, VAST AREAS OF LAND WHICH USED TO BE FARMED NOW IN RESERVES OF ONE SORT OR ANOTHER WHICH ARE NO LONGER PART OF THE ECONOMIC STRUCTE.

>> ONE APPEALING SOLUTION TO TODAY'S UNCERTAINTIES IS TO BOLSTER WHAT WE KNOW BEST.

THE.

>> THE FAMILY FARM WILL BE A MUSEUM RELIC IN 30 YEARS FROM NOW UNLESS THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR STATE ARE VERY FIRM IN SAYING, WE THINK AS PUBLIC POLICY THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PRESERVE THE FAMILY FARM.

>> BUT IS PRESERVATION ENOUGH?

>> I DON'T THINKT'S STRONG ENOUGH OR POWER FULL ENOUGH CONCEPT.

AT THE WORST, A PRESERVED AGRICULTURE WOULD BE A MUSEUM.

AT BEST IT WOULD JUST BE SORT OF THE WAY IT IS, NOT MUCH MORE.

MY FEELING HAS BEEN THAT WE NEED TO GO BEYOND THE IDEA OF PRESERVING AGRICULTURE INTO SOMETHING MUCH MORE DYNAMIC.

>> I THINK WE'VE GOT TO ADJUST OUR DEFINITNS AND OUR PHILOSOPHIES AS TO WHAT VERMONT AGRICULTURE IS TODAY WILL BE TOMORROW VERSUS WHAT IT HAS BEEN.

>> I SEE A WHOLE NEW GENERATION COMING ALONG WHO UNDERSTAND THE CHANGES IN CONSUMERS' NEEDS AND DESIRES, WHO KNOW HOW TO DIVERSIFY, WHO ARE REALLY GOING TO CARRY US INTO THE NEXT CENTURY IN THE SAME WAY AT THE TURN OF THIS CENTURY AS WE WENT OUT OF ONE TYPE OF AGRICULTURE WE CAME INTO ANOTHER.

>> AS ESSENTIAL AS IT IS TO HUMAN EXISTENCE, FARMING HAS NEVER PROVIDED AN EASY LIVELIHOOD.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED THE LAND HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED IN EVERY CONCEIVABLE WAY, YET THEY'VE SOMEHOW ALWAYS MANAGED TO ENDURE, TO ADAPT, TO SURVIVE AGAINST DIFFICULT ODDS AND CONTINUE PRODUCING OUR FOOD.

NOWHERE IN AMERICA HAS FARMING BEEN SO PERSISTENTLY DIFFICULT OR THE FINANCIAL REWARDS ANY LOWER THAN HERE IN VERMONT.

SOME SIMPLY RATNALIZE IT AS A REGIONAL BIRTH RIGHT PROPAGATED OVER TWO CENTURIES OF ECONOMIC EBB AND FLOW, BUT FOR MANY WORKING FARMERS, THE WINDS OF AGRICULTURAL CHANGE TODAY SEEM OM MI NOUSLY DIFFERENT THAN THOSE OF THE PAST.

BRINGING CLOUDS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT PASS.