CONNEAUTVILLE, Pa. — The Conneautville Farmers Exchange will no longer be selling bulk feed, according to a letter dated Oct. 4 the company sent to customers.
The letter announces that their last delivery day will be Oct. 28 and their plans to remain open as a bagged feed and farm supply store. It also notes their intentions to expand hours and product lines.
Customer Mark Creacraft of Centerville, Pennsylvania, received the letter from Conneautville Farmers Exchange and is scrambling to find a new feed source for his dairy herd.
“They did all of our rations work and we got soy and mineral mix from them,” said Creacraft, a 15-year patron. “I also stored grain there and used it as a grain bank. I’m not sure what I’m going to do now.”
“My cows were milking very well with them and now to be forced to make a switch, I’m worried about how my cows are going to react to a new ration,” said Creacraft, who milks about 60 head with a total of 150 including replacement heifers and steers.
“There are other places, even closer places, but I know they will be more expensive and a two weeks’ notice just isn’t enough time,” he said.
“I know some neighbors and some in the western part of the county [Crawford County] that are really scrambling to figure out where they will store grain and get feed.”
“It would have been one thing to let us know they would be done, like at the end of the year, given us time to plan and switch, but I don’t know what is going on,” he said.
Owner Cameron Wright declined to speak with the Farm and Dairy newspaper.
There’s something wrong. With HIM. He closed my account for NO reason (June) and I was forced to sell the last of my goats. The only other places left local won’t deliver less than 1000 pounds. I just lost my husband a bit over a year ago and this was the final straw. I wonder how many local farmers will also feel the same crunch? He has NO ethics and NO compassion. He told me it’s HIS business and he can do what HE wants to do. He just doesn’t care.