It’s 2025 and I’m still struggling. Nine years ago, I made a video for this blog titled “Dear struggling farmer,” and though a lot has changed, a lot hasn’t. We’re still struggling, just differently. Or maybe it just feels different to me.
Financially, I think we’re all still struggling. It feels like we’re one big disaster away from never recovering. The difference is that this time the milk price isn’t awful, but our costs continue to rise and the difference between the two is ever increasing. I genuinely want to provide a nutritious, safe, affordable food source for the world, but how can I be expected to keep doing that at an expense to myself? But that’s a whole different article, in my opinion.
Labor-wise, I think things are worse. I’m not saying there aren’t great people out there willing to do the work, but they’re hard to find and even harder to keep. The hours aren’t exactly ideal, and I don’t know many farms who can start employees out at $20 or more an hour. It’s frustrating to try to bring someone into your team and train them for them to completely ghost you a week later, putting you back to square one. It takes 20 of those experiences to find one good person.
As far as the public’s perception, honestly, I don’t know. All the studies say that people care about the environment and animal welfare and how we do what we do. But if someone put a microphone in front of my face and asked what my biggest concerns were with the food industry, aren’t those the things you’d say because you’re expected to say them? Can you honestly tell me the average person isn’t making food decisions based on things like cost or taste? Have you ever noticed how they never say taste? So, I’m starting to wonder if the public’s view of our industry was ever that big of a problem.
Last but definitely not least, I feel like we’re all mentally exhausted. Am I wrong? We’re told we must worry about all these things all the time when all I really want to do is feed my calves and plant my corn. I want to build and sustain something for the next generation, but do I want them to struggle the way I do? Is it fair of me to encourage them to take over the farm when I know they’ll struggle the way we do now? The joy and values and sense of accomplishment that comes from doing this job is unparalleled. It’s something I wish every single person on this earth could experience. But the uncontrollable hardships, the complete sense of being overwhelmed, and the reoccurring feeling of total defeat are things I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
So yes, a lot has changed in nine years. We’re struggling differently. I can’t tell you if it’s better or worse. All I can tell you, as I sit here writing this, is that I’m tired of the struggle.
The author dairies in partnership with her parents and brother at Spruce Row Farm in Pennsylvania. Jessica is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, and since 2015, she has been active in promoting dairy in her local community. You can find her and her 250 Jersey cows on Facebook at Spruce Row Dairy or on Instagram at @seejessfarm.
