The Knight family has owned and operated Mid-Knight Dairy Farm in Jamestown for more than 180 years.
"Dairy has been good to our family," said owner John Knight.
Even as milk prices were taking a downturn in 2015, he and his wife decided to invest in a new barn. Knight said milk prices are always cyclical, but three years later things still haven't bounced back.
"This is probably the worst time in the dairy industry since my 37 years of doing this,” he said. “I'm not sure how much longer this farm can take prices that are way below cost of production," he said.
Republican Senate candidate Chele Farley visited the farm Monday and called on her Democratic opponent Kirsten Gillibrand to approve new trade agreements negotiated with Canada and Mexico.
"I pledge on November 6, when elected to the U.S. Senate, to pass the trade bill among Canada, Mexico and the U.S. and to help farmers here in Chautauqua County and throughout New York State," Farley said.
She also said the Senate needs to reauthorize the federal farm bill and, standing with state and local legislators, said they all focus on policy to address the low prices of dairy, including allowing public schools to again sell both two percent and whole milk during lunch.
"I certainly grew up with it. I thought it was great,” Farley said. “I feed it to my 11-year-old son who loves it and it was a misguided notion to be taken out and it should be put back in.”
Helping farmers is just one of the many issues the Republican hopes to speak about during her first debate with Gillibrand. The two have agreed to a debate on October 21 that will air exclusively on Spectrum News.
"I have been pushing for a debate for a very long time," Farley said. "I am thrilled that she has accepted the first debate. I have accepted four others in addition, five altogether. I would love to do them all."
Meanwhile, Knight said he's just trying to hold on to his farm and believes increased opportunity for exports could lead to increased prices, finally giving him a reason for optimism.