The farms in Lewis County have been notified their product no longer will be needed by Queensboro Farm Products cooperative after the end of May. The farms have about 1,000 milk cows between them.
Last month, the 13-member Oneida-Lewis Milk Producers Cooperative lost its deal with a dairy in the New York City borough of Queens.
Michele Ledoux of Cornell Cooperative Extension says there’s an increase in milk production statewide and in surrounding states, and it’s exceeding the demand of food manufacturers and fluid milk needs.
Ledoux says state agriculture commissioner Richard Ball is aware and is providing resources to farmers.