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Dairies under tremendous financial stress

Continued low milk prices are causing a tremendous amount of stress on dairy farmers. 

Minnesota Department of Agriculture director of mental health Ted Matthews says dairy farmers don’t have many options when prices for the commodity they produce are depressed.

“With dairy, they can’t hold their product and hope that in six months or a year from now the price goes up, they’ve got to sell it right away. And because of that, it’s a constant. They are looking at that loss every time.”

Speaking to Brownfield at the Carver County Dairy Expo in central Minnesota, Matthews says he hopes the financial pain gets alleviated soon.

“But the way it looks to me, this is going to be a long-term thing and I think we’re going to lose more farms in the future too.”

When working with farmers, Matthews focuses on improving what can be controlled.  He also promotes open communication with family and trusted advisers.