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Illinois dairy farms adapting to decline in demand


The closing of schools and restaurants has created a major decrease in the demand for dairy items, but Illinois dairy farmers say that has not resulted in the dumping of excess milk seen in many states.

An estimated 2.7 million to 3.7 million gallons of milk could be dumped each day because of decreased demand, according to the Dairy Farmers of America.

Milk prices had been depressed for the past four years and the COVID-19 pandemic could stymie what farmers hoped would finally be a rebound year for the industry, however.

The excess in milk is due in part to how difficult it can be for farmers to reduce the amount of milk that young cows produce.

Tasha Bunting, associate director of commodities and livestock programs at the Illinois Farm Bureau, said farmers could look at methods such as changing feed rations to “dry out” cows and lower the amount of milk produced.

Don Mackinson, president of the Illinois Milk Producers Association, said he does not think milk dumping is a widespread issue in the state. He credited the work of the dairy processing facilities to adapt to new demands for reducing the need to go to such an extreme.

But dairy farmers have had to scale back their herds and a new distribution model needs to be worked out, Bunting said.

The loss of demand has also been felt on the side of dairy processing facilities, which have made shifts in production, Mackinson said. Processing facilities have been producing fewer gallon jugs and more containers of other sizes.

The Illinois Milk Producers Association is working to inform grocery stores and markets that the difficulties created by the coronavirus have not led to a milk shortage. Mackinson said stores should not limit how much milk or dairy products a customer can buy, even if they are putting limits on other items to avoid panic-buying.

“There is no need for any grocery store to be limiting the amount of milk or dairy products that customers can buy,” he said.

Source: herald-review.com


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