Just
about everybody is feeling the pinch in this recession. But imagine if your
paycheck was cut in half while your expenses stayed the same or even went up. That’s
what’s happened to many dairy farmers. Milk prices have dropped 50 percent in the
last few months.
State
workers are among those who have been hit by the recession. Faced with a
potential $200 million dollar state budget deficit, Governor Jim Douglas wants
to lay off 660 people. But
some were let go even before the governor announced the latest round of state job
cuts. VPR’s
John Dillon has this report on a state worker who was told right before
Christmas that she’d lose her job.
Congressional
negotiators have agreed on a renewal of the farm bill that includes an expanded
milk price support program.
Supporters
say the changes should make Vermont’s small and medium-sized farms more competitive.
More
Vermonters have turned to food stamps to help them make ends meet. And
at the same time, the price for that food has risen faster than it has in 30
years.