In the 1960s there were dozens of small dairy operations in Floyd County, but today barely a dozen remain. There are many reasons for this, but primary among them is a matter of scale. Floyd County dairy farms cannot compete with corporate dairies running hundreds or thousands of cows. However, it has been shown there is potential for small, highly efficient value added dairy operations. These are operations with small herds supplying milk for finished products like cheese and yogurt. We are currently researching and developing a grant application with the Appalachian Regional Commission and Virginia Tobacco Commission for a feasibility and planning study to create a small dairy processing facility.
There are many good examples of rural communities that reinvented their agricultural economies through investing in value added dairies, wineries, specialty crop production and the branding of local products. We wholeheartedly support agriculture, particularly sustainable agriculture, as the primary economic activity in Floyd County. And if Floyd is to retain its rural heritage, we need to invest in a new generation of agricultural activities.