News

Dairy farmer squeeze far from over

A dairy specialist expects challenging times causing dairy farmers to exit will continue.

Mike Hutjens with the University of Illinois says nine percent of dairy farms have closed this year in his state, following a trend seen across the Midwest.“We’re also hearing Wisconsin is losing 1½ farms a day, Wisconsin and Minnesota, 2½ farms a day so it’s a real dynamic going on.”  The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture says about 500 farms, or five percent, have closed since the first of the year.  Michigan’s department of ag reports a loss of about 10 percent in the last year.

Hutjens tells Brownfield drought conditions this season in places like Missouri could mean feed supplies will be short and cause even more problems.  “If you’re going to be short 10 percent feed, let’s learn it now because you might be able to buy forages now, where next April or May before the new crops come in, whoa, we’re in big trouble.”  He says farmers could be planting winter wheat now to harvest in the spring or supplement with byproducts.

AUDIO: Interview with Mike Hutjens during World Dairy Expo