NJ dairy farmers say they hope NAFTA revamp gives them a boost

<p>Some of New Jersey&rsquo;s struggling dairy farmers say that they hope that a trade agreement announced Monday by President Donald Trump will help their business.</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 1, 2018, 11:42 PM

Updated 2,031 days ago

Share:

Some of New Jersey’s struggling dairy farmers say that they hope that a trade agreement announced Monday by President Donald Trump will help their business.
Hunterdon County dairy farmer Heidi Kovacs say that she loves being a dairy farmer, but hates the price she is getting for her cows’ milk.
“My heart was always in the Jersey cows, and dairy farming, I just like it for some reason,” she says, but adds, “The milk price has been down for about three years now.”
She says that price she receives for milk sold in bulk amounts to around $1.60 per gallon, which is less than what it costs to produce.
Kovacs says that she has had to open a small store on her farm this summer to sell some of her farm-raised products for additional income.
“Anything we can do to sell our products directly to the consumer to try to balance the low milk prices,” she says.
The new trade deal would open Canada’s restricted market to more United States dairy products, which could help farmers like Kovacs.
Fifteen years ago there were around 115 dairy farms in New Jersey. Today, Kovac’s 30-acre farm is only one of 48 left in the state. Slumping prices have driven most out of business.


More from News 12
1:48
Police release photos of vehicle involved in 2022 fatal drive-by shooting in Ronkonkoma in hope of leads

Police release photos of vehicle involved in 2022 fatal drive-by shooting in Ronkonkoma in hope of leads

1:54
Chance for showers Wednesday; cooldown for the end of the workweek

Chance for showers Wednesday; cooldown for the end of the workweek

Santos bows out of independent run for NY's 1st Congressional District

Santos bows out of independent run for NY's 1st Congressional District

0:23
Police: 5 teens caught on camera trespassing into Patchogue building

Police: 5 teens caught on camera trespassing into Patchogue building

1:40
Remains of 7 WWII vets found at Freeport funeral home

Remains of 7 WWII vets found at Freeport funeral home

0:34
DA: Syosset man pleads guilty in DWI crash that killed married couple in Laurel Hollow

DA: Syosset man pleads guilty in DWI crash that killed married couple in Laurel Hollow

0:23
Huntington artist designs stamps now available for purchase at USPS locations

Huntington artist designs stamps now available for purchase at USPS locations

1:57
3 families displaced by fast-moving fire at North Amityville home

3 families displaced by fast-moving fire at North Amityville home

2:53
Sachem schools consider staffing and program cuts, piercing tax cap as budget vote looms

Sachem schools consider staffing and program cuts, piercing tax cap as budget vote looms

0:29
Jericho named Long Island's top rated high school by U.S. News and World Report

Jericho named Long Island's top rated high school by U.S. News and World Report

0:51
NCC working with food truck vendors to provide food for rest of semester

NCC working with food truck vendors to provide food for rest of semester

Is your mom awesome? Long Island tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? Long Island tell us why your Mom Rocks!

1:42
Made on Long Island: Nicolock Paving Stones in Lindenhurst

Made on Long Island: Nicolock Paving Stones in Lindenhurst

0:48
9 steps to take if your ‘fur-ever’ friend goes missing

9 steps to take if your ‘fur-ever’ friend goes missing

1:54
Ronkonkoma woman pleads not guilty to 49 counts of animal cruelty

Ronkonkoma woman pleads not guilty to 49 counts of animal cruelty

1:33
Hampton Bays woman retrieves phone, wallet she accidently dumped into recycling bin nearly 3 weeks ago

Hampton Bays woman retrieves phone, wallet she accidently dumped into recycling bin nearly 3 weeks ago

0:32
Spartans chosen as new mascot for Brentwood school district

Spartans chosen as new mascot for Brentwood school district

0:19
Police: 2 people hospitalized following Lawrence crash

Police: 2 people hospitalized following Lawrence crash

2:12
Amityville schools to receive $2 million from new state budget to help reduce budget deficit, save jobs

Amityville schools to receive $2 million from new state budget to help reduce budget deficit, save jobs

0:17
Man wanted for stealing $1,000 in merchandise from Centereach store

Man wanted for stealing $1,000 in merchandise from Centereach store