Batavia, N.Y. – New York State’s dairy industry is becoming more reliant on the growing global market.
But with the possibility of new limitations on the import of milk products, farmers, business owners and politicians are asking the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect the industry.
In about a month a $16-million expanded factory will open at O-AT-KA in Batavia.
It will become one of three facilities in the country with an ultra filtration system capability.
That is basically the ability to take the fat and the carbohydrates out and leave milk protein concentrates.
“We'd like to be able to continue to grow and to develop that business,” said O-AT-KA Chief Operating Officer, Bill Schreiber. “If these trade barriers get put in place it will limit our opportunity to expand our business with these customers.”
This could cause the company potentially $10-million in loss trade revenue.
“There's so much progress going on that our federal government has to do everything in it's power to remove road blocks from competitive trade,” said New York Senator Charles Schumer, “so these products can be traded freely to our friendly neighbor to the north, Canada and to other countries around the world.”
Currently, five-percent of O-AT-KA’s products are imported by Canada.
