(08/09/06) HAVENDALE ? Dairy farmers in New Jersey say various factors are making it difficult to turn a decent profit lately.

For one, farmers say the operating costs of producing milk have increased considerably. According to farmers, this can be attributed to the high cost of electricity and real estate prices in the Garden State. Despite these increases, farmers say their bottom line is shrinking because the price of milk has stayed the same.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture held a hearing last month in an effort to help dairy farmers in the state. Although they?ve had to make cutbacks, many dairy farmers say they can make it through the recent difficult financial period. They just hope that time span isn?t too long.