United States dairymen/women offered a glimpse into the harsh reality of being a milk producer during this difficult time. If you don’t believe me, type “milk dumping” into your search bar.
COVID-19 has forced schools to shutdown and limited bars and restaurants to carryout and delivery. Such changes across the food space has greatly impacted those supplying food. John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, speaks to the challenges the dairy supply chain is faced with.
?With many not leaving their homes, hundreds of thousands of restaurants, schools and universities, and other food outlets closed or reduced in sales, cheese has lost a great share of its largest market. Nearly half of all cheese sold in the United States moves through food service channels, while one-third is sold at retail grocery stores,” Umhoefer said.
Supply exceeds demand, despite recent spikes at supermarkets and grocery stores. Dairy cooperatives, as a result, have asked their farmer members to dump milk, in an effort to help reduce the domestic supply. ” The dairy industry is faced with an unprecedented challenge to find markets for milk,” said Umhoefer.
?With milk cows producing more milk in a mild spring, dairy exports falling worldwide, dairy productivity challenged by the need to keep our workforce safe, the dairy industry has an unprecedented challenge to find markets for milk,” Umhoefer said. “As the dairy industry works around the clock to balance the supply of milk with demand, we look to the federal government to immediately begin to purchase dairy products to offer to food pantries and school feeding programs, so dairy farmers can continue to deliver fresh milk and help America?s food insecure during these challenging times.”
