Dairy Framers Under Pressure in The State

Brian Shactman and Seth Bahler from Oak Ridge Dairy in Ellington discussed the challenges faced by Connecticut dairy farmers. Since 2005, the state has lost over half of its dairy farms. Baylor highlighted that milk prices dropped 25% from 2025 to 2026, costing his farm $500,000 monthly. He advocated for $20 million in funding and a refundable tax credit similar to Massachusetts' program to support the industry. Despite the financial strain, Baylor's farm innovated by building a bottling plant and a home delivery service, selling 25,000 gallons of milk daily. He emphasized the importance of preserving local dairy farms for community sustainability.