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Walt Jaquay
After 41 Years
Jaquay's is Closing;
Auction Saturday
Walt Jaquay understands the rollercoaster
economics of farming in Central New York. After
all, he rode it for his entire adult life.
He was 16 when he started working in his father's
feed store on Milford Street in Hamilton. Walt then
established his own dairy farm after graduating from
what is now Morrisville State College in 1957, and
took over the feed business after his father died in
1988.
Now, the farm economy -- and the cost of doing
business in New York -- have entered a new, almost
bizarre realm. Fertilizer that was $200 a ton a year
ago today is $631 a ton. Seed corn that sold for
$125 a bag last spring now retails for more than
$200 for the same amount.
These and other changes have made it difficult for
the Jaquay Feed Company to continue. In fact, come
Saturday, the inventory and equipment will be put on
the auction block. Depending on the level of
interest, the buildings and the 1.9 acres on which
they sit could also be sold.
Jaquay said he had hope and tried to sell the family
business as a turnkey operation someone could take
over lock, stock and fertilizer. There was little
interest.
On Saturday, he expects farmers to bid on the
inventory they would normally have come to
Jaquay's to purchase. He said he has heard from
some other feed and seed suppliers who might be
interested in purchasing some of the equipment,
some of which Jacquay said dates back to when he
worked for his dad as a boy.
"The cost of doing business has escalated so much
that its not feasible for small businesses to stay in
business," said Jaquay. He cited the cost of fuel,
workers' compensation premiums and other
insurances as being particularly burdensome. "There
are not enough customers I could pass along the
cost of doing business."
Jaquay said he will be working part time selling feed
for a Pennsylvania company. He continues as the
Town of Hamilton supervisor, and he suspects he will
be looking for a full time job as well.
He said the two employees of the feed mill have
found other jobs.
Farmers who used to buy from Jaquay's will have to
go to Earley's in Madison or the DeRuyter Coop. He
said he expects many to shop at Tractor Supply
Company if it opens in the proposed Madison
Marketplace north of Hamilton on Rte. 12B North.
Jaquay is up front about the coming change: he's not
thrilled it has come to this. He also knows enough
about the agriculture economy -- and about doing
business in New York -- to figure that it will be a
while before it gets better.
Saturday's auction begins at 11 a.m.
Posted 2008.4.9
Jaquay's is Closing;
Auction Saturday
Walt Jaquay understands the rollercoaster
economics of farming in Central New York. After
all, he rode it for his entire adult life.
He was 16 when he started working in his father's
feed store on Milford Street in Hamilton. Walt then
established his own dairy farm after graduating from
what is now Morrisville State College in 1957, and
took over the feed business after his father died in
1988.
Now, the farm economy -- and the cost of doing
business in New York -- have entered a new, almost
bizarre realm. Fertilizer that was $200 a ton a year
ago today is $631 a ton. Seed corn that sold for
$125 a bag last spring now retails for more than
$200 for the same amount.
These and other changes have made it difficult for
the Jaquay Feed Company to continue. In fact, come
Saturday, the inventory and equipment will be put on
the auction block. Depending on the level of
interest, the buildings and the 1.9 acres on which
they sit could also be sold.
Jaquay said he had hope and tried to sell the family
business as a turnkey operation someone could take
over lock, stock and fertilizer. There was little
interest.
On Saturday, he expects farmers to bid on the
inventory they would normally have come to
Jaquay's to purchase. He said he has heard from
some other feed and seed suppliers who might be
interested in purchasing some of the equipment,
some of which Jacquay said dates back to when he
worked for his dad as a boy.
"The cost of doing business has escalated so much
that its not feasible for small businesses to stay in
business," said Jaquay. He cited the cost of fuel,
workers' compensation premiums and other
insurances as being particularly burdensome. "There
are not enough customers I could pass along the
cost of doing business."
Jaquay said he will be working part time selling feed
for a Pennsylvania company. He continues as the
Town of Hamilton supervisor, and he suspects he will
be looking for a full time job as well.
He said the two employees of the feed mill have
found other jobs.
Farmers who used to buy from Jaquay's will have to
go to Earley's in Madison or the DeRuyter Coop. He
said he expects many to shop at Tractor Supply
Company if it opens in the proposed Madison
Marketplace north of Hamilton on Rte. 12B North.
Jaquay is up front about the coming change: he's not
thrilled it has come to this. He also knows enough
about the agriculture economy -- and about doing
business in New York -- to figure that it will be a
while before it gets better.
Saturday's auction begins at 11 a.m.
Posted 2008.4.9