Next month there will be two events that many people might want to attend.

Butler County Farm Tour

The annual Butler County Farm Tour is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year the tour will be held in the southeastern portion of the county. The 4 individual stops are described as follows:

• Thoma Meat Market — 748 Dinnerbell Road, Saxonburg. Telephone: 724-352-2020

• CMM Equestrian Farm —135 Durango Lane, Cabot. Telephone: 724-352-8458

• Davy Jones Farm — 240 Jones Road, Cabot. Telephone: 724-352-2450

• Winfield Winery — 1026 Winfield Road, Cabot. Web site: www.WinfieldWinery.com

More information can be provided by the Butler Conservation District at 724-284-5270.

Dairy Solution Forum

The other event is at 10 a.m. Oct. 5 when U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-3rd, will host a Dairy Solution Forum at the Butler Farm Show grounds on Route 68.

The forum is open to all interested parties. The topic of discussion will be to generate ideas for a solution to the current crisis in the dairy industry. Dairy producers have seen their milk checks reduced by as much as 50 percent. Input or production costs have exceeded producer's milk prices for about 10 months. The dairy industry is the backbone of Pennsylvania's agricultural infrastructure.

There is no question that there will be changes on the horizon for some Western Pennsylvania dairy farms. No business can continue to operate month after month in the red. Producers are burning through equity (IRA's, life insurance cash value and life savings) just to continue to operate day to day. Operating capital is at a premium, as borrowed money and open accounts are increasing on the balance sheets.

It is with those thoughts that everyone in or affiliated with the dairy industry realizes something needs to be done immediately. Normal downturns in milk prices have never lasted so long, when especially the degree of the price reduction is considered at about 50 percent.

Hopefully, some solutions can be presented to Dahlkemper, who sits on the House Agriculture Committee.

Anyone interested in attending or speaking at this forum will need to contact either the Farm Service Agency at 724-482-4800, Ext. 2, or Dahlkemper's office at 814-456-2038 or toll-free at 877-528-4948.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.