HOOKSETT, N.H. — Grange leaders from New England met here last month to discuss solutions to the crisis in the dairy industry.

John Porter of the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension and Steve Taylor, the state’s commissioner of agriculture, said the major causes include: overproduction in the West, higher production costs in New England, loss of the New England Dairy Compact and unregulated imports of milk protein concentrate.

“Sixteen months of low milk prices have caused a crisis for Maine dairy farmers,” said Maine State Grange Master Steve Verrill.

“If our farms go out of business we are not only losing an industry that pays taxes, provides jobs and supports an infrastructure for all of Maine agriculture, we are losing our rural character. As these farms disappear, so will the 250,000 acres of open space that they provide.”

A bill (H.R. 324 Dairy Consumers and Producers Protection Act) in Congress to revive regional dairy compacts was discussed. New England Grange state masters will lobby their congressional delegations to sign the bill.

For more information, people can contact the Maine State Grange at 1-800-464-3421 or 146 State St., Augusta, ME 04330.

or by e-mail at mestategrange