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Some Ohio dairies liquidate, close in response to low milk prices


Worldwide demand and a low number of cows had dairy farmers milking the profits four years ago.

Now, the situation is reversed and low milk prices are forcing dairy farms in northwestern Ohio to either close or liquidate a large portion of their herds.

Six dairies in Mercer County and four in Auglaize County closed or reduced their herds over the past year, according to The Daily Standard.

Data from the state Department of Agriculture showed Mercer has 89 dairies compared to 121 six years ago, and Auglaize has 35 compared to 58. The state saw a drop in 59 licensed dairy farms just over the past five months.

Smaller dairies have to increase their size to remain profitable, and the investment is too much of a risk, said Ohio State University Extension educator Denny Riethman.

Milk prices averaged at $23.26 per 100 pounds in 2014. The average this year is at $14.43, a 38 percent decline.

St. Marys dairy farmer Melvin Fledderjohann, 82, said he plans to stay in the dairy business. He and his son save costs by doing all the work on their 70-cow operation.

“We have a couple of dollars in the bank, so we will wait and see what’s down the road,” he said.

New Breman farmer Lou Brown also has no hired help. He said he plans to wait through the downturn.

“I am an older farmer in my upper 50s and well established versus one who is not and building a barn,” he said. “Some of those are the guys the bank has foreclosed on.”

Agriculture officials still expect more dairies to close in the future.

“There’s just so much excess milk right now,” said Dianne Shoemaker, a dairy production economics specialist. “It looks like that’s going to continue to be the case for a while.”

 
 
SourceNBC4i.com

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