As dairy crisis deepens, farmers are warned that milk dumping could harm the environment

The dismal outlook for Wisconsin dairy farmers has worsened as they’re being warned that milk prices will continue falling, and more milk dumping could be necessary, if the federal government doesn’t start buying dairy products to offset COVID-19’s effect on the economy.

Rapidly changing conditions have taken a toll on processors and farmers alike as the market for cheese, butter and other products has been decimated by the near collapse of the food-service industry.

On Friday, cooperatives were telling members to cut milk production through culling cows or other means because processing plants had nowhere for the milk to go.

“It’s just unreal. If you had told me six months ago this was the scenario I would have said you’ve been watching too many horror films. But it’s just been a cascading effect,” said Paul Bauer, CEO of Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery in Ellsworth and a board member of the state Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection since 2017.

Read more: https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2020/04/03/coronavirus-milk-dumping-could-harm-environment/2938784001/