Desperate times call for desperate measures. That's what dairy farmers across the country are saying as they staged a milk dump on the 4th of July. Our Karen Lee attended one protest in Herkimer County.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

"There's a lot of emotion because that's your money going down the tank," said Robin Hitch, a Herkimer County dairy farmer.

"It's sad. It's sad that anybody has to come to this point. Why people can't hear, our legislators can't hear and see and take care of the situation, I don't understand," said Darlene Carroll, a West Winfield resident.

Nearly 900 gallons of milk worth almost $1,000 was dumped down the drain.

"Now that cost us $1,200 and change to make it based on the USDA's proposed cost. But if you look at what we were going to get paid, really you know we would have lost $300 by sending that milk anyhow," said David Fitch.

So they're bleeding milk instead of money. The Fitch's are taking part in a nationwide milk dump. Dairy farmers say federal officials promised to adjust prices, but those promises, they say, have wound up like these air bubbles.

"Here we are on Independence Day, 4th of July, isn't that the fundamental that our nation was founded on? Let people make a reasonable living," said Assemblyman Marc Butler of Herkimer.

"We don't need to be making six-figure income. If we could pay our bills and break even, we'd be happy," said David Fitch.

"We're not a group that asks for a handout. But now we're having to beg and plead and go through extraordinary measures," said Robin Fitch.

For nearly two years, farmers have held rallies, written letters and made calls. They've drained their arsenal and say this milk dump exemplifies their desperation.

While federal officials are working on a 2012 Farm Bill, dairy farmers say that will be too late and they need immediate action.