Dairy farming is dying. After 40 years, I’m done

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/dairy-farming-is-dying-after-40-years-im-out/2018/12/21/79cd63e4-0314-11e9-b6a9-0aa5c2fcc9e4_story.html

by noefingway • 8 years ago

13 2 8 years ago

washingtonpost.com

aurizon• 8 years ago

A sad situation - but not unexpected. For decades we have been sold the values of milk by milk marketing boards. In truth, milk is costly for that you get - 3.5% fat and some sugar and protein milk solids are 6% or so of the total. 100/6 = 16.6 cost multiplier. so $3 for a gallon of milk(8.6 pounds or .5 pounds of solids or about $6 a pound for the solids the rest is water and some minerals and vitamins. I use an ounce or twp a day for tea/coffee So we see this collapse. The loss of farms might allow economics to raise the price, but people are stopping consumption of milk for various reasons. What can you do - change what you do, as this farmer has done.

RobLach• 8 years ago

Total milk demand is trending down but production is still trending upwards in the US, so dairy farms as a business (factory farms) are still finding enough margin for expansion. It’s just these rural lifestyle dairy farms are finally being squeezed to the brink; having a grass field with some grazing milk cows has become a luxury.

Dairy farming is dying. After 40 years, I’m done

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