BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts is set to join a regional push to help New England's struggling dairy farmers.
The farmers say they are being forced out of business by falling dairy prices, mounting losses and a lack of credit that's marked the current economic recession.
In response, state Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Scott Soares will travel to Vermont on Monday, joining dairy producers and the agricultural commissioners of New Hampshire and Vermont.
They plan to launch the "Keep Local Farms" initiative, which will provide additional money directly to New England dairy farmers.
The program also seeks to encourage residents to buy local milk and dairy products.
The Northeast has 145,000 jobs supported by the dairy industry and provides 20 percent of the country's milk production.
