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AND THEY MAKE UP ABOUT 30- PERCENT OF THE STUDENT BODY. s AS CONSUMERS INCREASINGLY LOOK TO EXPLORE LOCALLY- PRODUCED AND ARTISAN FOOD OPTIONS, AND WITH GOAT CHEESE REMAINING QUITE POPULAR… AGRICULTURE OFFICIALS IN VERMONT SAY THEY ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE CALLS FROM PEOPLE LOOKING TO EXPLORE GOAT OR SHEEP FARMING. AS JACK THURSTON TELLS US – SUCH A PATH… IS ALSO…. ONE OF MANY POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO BOLSTERING THE DAIRY INDUSTRY THROUGH ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. Call this the lunchtime rush at Ayers Brook Goat Dairy in Randolph, Vermont – hundreds of animals clamoring for grain from Miles Hooper. ((MILES HOOPER / Goat Farmer: 7:31: we’ve been touting goats for many years now.)) More farmers are now taking a look at goats, in a state where cows are probably the first animal you’d think of when it comes to dairy. The cow’s milk sector, though, has long been battered by low prices paid to producers, high operational costs, and rising competition from plant-based substitutes. ((JACK THURSTON: State numbers show today, there are 544 Vermont farms milking cows. That number is down more than 400 from a decade ago.)) So a dairy industry revitalization task force is now holding committee meetings at the statehouse in Montpelier to guide future policies. But already, some farms are turning to goats as a possible alternative path, believing they’re 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. ((BRIAN JONES / Joneslan Farm: 2:36: they act a lot different than cows, but I like it – I like it better than I do cows, I guess, so far.)) And he likes the market for goat’s milk – with a premium price. Vermont Creamery, a famous maker of goat cheese and other products, has encouraged farmers to consider raising goats so it could add to its supplier list close to home, helping support an expansion. ((LAURA GINSBURG / Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center: 7:46: I think there’s a lot of opportunities still out there.)) Laura Ginsburg’s with the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center. ((LAURA GINSBURG / Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center: 7:34: right now, we are not by any means even close to coming close to satisfying that demand with regionally-produced milk or regionally- produced products.)) Back in Randolph, another property once home to cows, Miles Hooper has already helped several farms get started with new goat herds. ((MILES HOOPER / 17:17: I certainly don’t ever mean to say that goats should replace cows, I’m simply saying that maybe a few of these cow farmers might find that they like goats and are good at it.)) As that revitalization task force is surely finding, there won’t be one single solution to strengthening the dairy industry – but these Vermonters are betting on goats as they chart thei

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.

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.