Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Farmers forced to dump excess milk due to oversupply
KTLA-TV5 ^ | Jul 13, 2023 / 09:56 AM PDT | by: Henry Amor, Nick Smith

Posted on 07/13/2023 10:50:41 AM PDT by Red Badger

* There is an oversupply of milk in the U.S.

* Cows have to be milked. If not, could cause bruising, sickness, even death

* Demand for milk is down 20% this year, the cost dropped to $1.78 per gallon

*********************************

CHICAGO (NewsNation) — There’s no shortage of milk in the U.S. these days. In fact, there is so much of it that farmers are being forced to get rid of it.

The issue at hand is that milk is a daily commodity. Whether there’s a demand for it or not, the cows have to be milked. If a cow is not milked, it could cause bruising, sickness and even death.

Once the milk is collected, it must be transported to a dairy facility for processing.

However, now there’s too much milk and it’s forcing farmers to dump it because the facilities can’t keep up with the demand and have run out of space to store the milk.

The processing plants are dealing with labor shortages, especially on the weekends, which means there’s less production of milk products.

In the upper Midwest, the demand for milk is down 20% this year. A Wisconsin-based dairy publication, The Milkweed, said that the daily loss of sales in the region equals about 25 semi-trailers of milk per day.

Because the demand for milk is down, so are the prices.

In June 2022, milk was at $2.30 per gallon, and the latest figures available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show the price in April has dropped by more than $.50 per gallon to about $1.78 per gallon.

The price of class 3 milk, which is used to make cheese, is also on the decline. In June 2022, the price was $24.33 per hundredweight, and in May, it dropped by more than $8.

Cheese production facilities can’t take advantage of the cheaper milk prices because they also don’t have space to keep refrigerated products such as cheddar and mozzarella cheese.

The last time American farmers were forced to dump so much milk was during the COVID-19 pandemic when schools and restaurants were shut down. During that time, the demand for milk took a huge hit, but eventually was able to bounce back.

Farmers are hoping that happens again.

In the meantime, some Minnesota dairy farmers are downsizing by selling cows to try and balance out their over-supply issues.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

1 posted on 07/13/2023 10:50:41 AM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Can’t milk be stored as cheese?


2 posted on 07/13/2023 10:51:23 AM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin; mylife
Just think of all the CHEESE that milk could have made!......................
3 posted on 07/13/2023 10:52:05 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Of course!................


4 posted on 07/13/2023 10:52:31 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

So why is the price so high if there is so much of it?


5 posted on 07/13/2023 10:53:39 AM PDT by frogjerk (More people have died trusting the government than not trusting the government.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Where does all this milk get dumped? Seems like it would not be easy to get rid of...


6 posted on 07/13/2023 10:54:29 AM PDT by sonova (That's what I always say sometimes.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Yes, but that takes time and equipment. And if the cheese makers are full up...


7 posted on 07/13/2023 10:54:41 AM PDT by discostu (like a dog being shown a card trick)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: frogjerk

Fodder for the left. There’s po’ folk out there you know.


8 posted on 07/13/2023 10:54:49 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (e allowed )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Someone should have bought it to be made into cheese then.

Market is working out the supply demand process here. Sometimes its harsh.


9 posted on 07/13/2023 10:54:52 AM PDT by Bayard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

The Walmart box of 60 eggs that was as high as $19.95 last winter is now back to $6-7 in Va and SC.


10 posted on 07/13/2023 10:56:25 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: frogjerk

They want to keep it high. That’s why they dump it....................


11 posted on 07/13/2023 10:57:14 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Bayard

No reason to cry over dumped milk.


12 posted on 07/13/2023 10:57:18 AM PDT by Round Earther
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: sonova

Good question...........


13 posted on 07/13/2023 10:57:43 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

it used to be called government cheese...

now it’s down the drain


14 posted on 07/13/2023 11:00:10 AM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Cheese plants are running at full capacity. Local cheese factory is asking farmers to cut back on production.


15 posted on 07/13/2023 11:00:44 AM PDT by Cold Heart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Price of a gallon in my area is nearly $4


16 posted on 07/13/2023 11:01:50 AM PDT by no-to-illegals ( The enemy has US surrounded. May God have mercy on them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: frogjerk

More profit for less processing with no protests.

We are being raped from all angles.

“This is fine”


17 posted on 07/13/2023 11:02:51 AM PDT by right way right (May we remain sober over mere men, for God really is our only true hope. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

MAKE POWDERED MILK OR CheESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


18 posted on 07/13/2023 11:03:00 AM PDT by Mr. K (No consequence of repealing Obamacare is worse than Obamacare)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

A huge part of the problem is that other products that are not milk are now allowed to market themselves as “milk” including “almond milk” “soy milk” and “oat milk”. Combine that with the current phobia of anything to do with cows due to the climate scam, and you have a serious market problem for dairy producers.

I try to encourage all my family members to drink actual milk, although several are convinced they have allergies and lactose intolerance. Our society is consumed with hypocondria.


19 posted on 07/13/2023 11:03:05 AM PDT by con-surf-ative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Or powdered?


20 posted on 07/13/2023 11:03:43 AM PDT by DesertRhino (Dogs are called man's best friend. Moslems hate dogs. Add it up..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson