BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 7, 2024
Dozens of Maine dairy farmers packed a legislative hearing Wednesday to call for lawmakers to approve higher milk prices set under a state relief program. The boosted price levels are sorely needed, particularly after higher inflation during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to farmers. That came amid historic struggles in Maine’s dairy industry, which has dwindled from 4,600 farms in 1954 to less than 150 now on the heels of major closures over the past few years.