The Sussex community faces a major economic blow. Quebec based Agropur plans to close its Butternut Valley plant by 2028. This decision eliminates roughly 60 local jobs in a town proudly known as Dairy Town.

A Deep Loss for Dairy Town

Jim Brown feels this loss deeply. He worked as a dairy farmer and helped open the original Dairytown plant in the 1980s. That facility eventually joined the Agropur group. Brown retired at age 70 and hoped the company would expand the state of the art Sussex facility.

“I felt terrible, just terrible,” Brown told CBC News. “Agropur let everyone down.”

His wife Marjorie shares this frustration. She points out the province gave Agropur a 2.4 million dollar non repayable loan to modernize its Miramichi plant while shutting down the Sussex location. She notes the region already lost its potash mine and struggles to keep residents when industries leave.

Community Members React

The closure ripples through the entire town. Sussex resident Ronald Alyea knows the difficulty of job loss firsthand. He acknowledges that retraining programs exist but notes they are difficult to navigate when you scramble to figure out your next steps.

Amanda Douthwright considers herself a farm girl and has lived in Sussex her whole life. She believes the dairy industry forms the core identity of the town. She stresses the need to keep jobs local.

The Bigger Picture for New Brunswick Dairy

Agropur is shifting its focus. The company will close the Sussex plant and a facility in Truro, Nova Scotia. They plan to double their dairy ingredient and butter processing capacity at their Bedford plant. They will also increase processing capacity by 50 percent in Miramichi. These changes add 30 jobs in Bedford and 15 in Miramichi.

Steve Michaud serves as the general manager of the Dairy Farmers of New Brunswick. He sees a silver lining for the province. Demand for milk powder to add protein to food products has increased by 30 percent. Currently, some New Brunswick milk goes to Quebec for processing because the Maritimes lack capacity.

Michaud says this new project repatriates that milk and processes it locally. He reassures residents that Sussex remains a vital dairy hub. Sussex and Moncton host the largest concentration of dairy farms and produce at least 60 percent of the milk in New Brunswick.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the Agropur plant in Sussex close?

Agropur plans to close the Butternut Valley plant near Sussex by the end of 2028.

How many jobs are affected by the closure?

The closure eliminates approximately 60 jobs in the Sussex area.

Why is Agropur closing the Sussex facility?

The company is consolidating operations. They are expanding their facilities in Bedford, Nova Scotia, and Miramichi, New Brunswick, to increase regional processing capacity.

Will Sussex still produce milk?

Yes. Sussex and Moncton contain the largest concentration of dairy farms in the province and produce 60 percent of New Brunswick’s milk.