Area organic dairy farmers struggle with low milk prices

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — Just off Cook Road east of Interstate 5 sits an unused 80-acre plot of land with the outline of a 49,000-square-foot building drawn in gravel.

The plot was meant to become a state-of-the-art expansion for the Dykstra organic dairy farm, complete with an automated milking system.

"Now it's a big, expensive parking lot," said third-generation dairy farmer Charlie Dykstra.

The construction was put on hold indefinitely after the price of organic milk tanked during the past year and a half, Dykstra said.

The Dykstra farm isn't the only organic dairy farm struggling.

"You won't see a single dairy doing anything crazy right now," said Dykstra, who manages the farm with his father and brother.