My Northern Wisconsin

Covering Ashland, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Vilas Counties


PRICE COUNTY DAIRY FARMERS FEAR BEING PUT OUT OF BUSINESS ON MARCH 16, 2022 - Updated


UPDATE on 3/14/2022:  The county issued the necessary permit on Monday, and there will not be a meeting about this issue.

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On Friday, March 11, 2022, many Price County farmers felt true concern for their livelihood.

Mullins Cheese, who operates the milks truck that pick up milk from farmers in Kennan, Catawba, Phillips, Ogema, and Brantwood, informed the farmers that they could not get a permit from Price County to travel on the roads after March 16th when they are posted for spring break-up.

According to Peggy Hainy, "We all get picked up the same day and it's an every other day pickup.  The county board has suggested that Mullins send two trucks.  Don Mullins, [the owner of Mullins Cheese], said that is not feasible.  Besides the gas cost, he doesn't have the labor force, like most places these days."

Peggy's husband, Ed, starting calling people immediately to get this resolved.  He contacted the highway commissioner, county board members, and workers at Mullins Cheese.  According to the Hainys, a special meeting was needed to resolve this issue immediately.

"The highway committee is in charge of the weight limits, and Ed has been told that Mr. Larry Palecek will not call a special meeting to get this resolved.  Never in the 40 years of us farming have the milk trucks been stopped from picking up milk until now.  All the surrounding counties have given Mullins permits.  We will continue to fight.  This is our livelihood," Peggy explained.

If you want to help the local farmers, community members can call their county board representatives or specifically the highway committee, which includes Chairman Larry Palecek, Alan Barkstrom, James Hintz, Jordan Spacek, and Jeff Hallstrand.

Highway Commissioner Joe Baratka, as of Saturday morning, stated there will be a highway committee meeting on Tuesday, March 15, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. in the county board room to address the milk hauling issue.  This meeting is open to all, and Peggy encourages the community to attend.  According to Peggy, "If nothing is changed as of March 16th, the farmers of Price County will be out of business."

UPDATE on 3/14/2022:  The county issued the necessary permit on Monday, and there will not be a meeting about this issue.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST:  From burgers for grilling to bacon-wrapped tenderloins, Deer Creek Angus, LLC has a large selection of Black Angus beef sold by individual packages and in quarters, halves, and whole.  Contact Deer Creek Angus, LLC at 715-550-6156, find products & pricing on their website, and follow their Facebook page.

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(This post was last modified: 03-15-2022, 01:02 AM by My Northern Wisconsin.)