The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoard’s Dairyman. 
Three processors in Minnesota have stepped up to accept milk from Minnesota farms whose milk buyer gave notice it would no longer take those farms’ milk after April 30. Since the farms received notifications earlier this month, Minnesota Milk Producers Association has worked as a facilitator to raise awareness and connect resources to help resolve the issue. Late Monday, Minnesota Milk received word all 10 producers had found a home for their milk.
“We must thank the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, our state’s federal legislators and especially our processors, who were continuously monitoring milk levels to bring on any milk for which they could find room,” said Dave Buck, a Goodhue dairy producer who serves as Minnesota Milk’s chairman.
“We commend Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson’s office for all its work behind the scenes in making calls and connecting producers. We also thank Senator Al Franken for convening a meeting on the issue Friday,” added Lucas Sjostrom, executive director of Minnesota Milk. “But most of all, we appreciate our processors for doing what they always do -- look for a way to help add value to our state farmers’ milk.”
According to Sjostrom, the situation shows how Minnesota’s dairy cooperatives need better market signals to expand. Expensive regulations, unsteady trade practices worldwide and competing with other industries for labor prevents new investment in milk plants from keeping up to a frantic pace of growth in milk production.
The organization is asking state and federal legislators to do everything they can to help keep the incentives for dairy plant expansion heading in a positive direction.
“We commend Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson’s office for all its work behind the scenes in making calls and connecting producers. We also thank Senator Al Franken for convening a meeting on the issue Friday,” added Lucas Sjostrom, executive director of Minnesota Milk. “But most of all, we appreciate our processors for doing what they always do -- look for a way to help add value to our state farmers’ milk.”
According to Sjostrom, the situation shows how Minnesota’s dairy cooperatives need better market signals to expand. Expensive regulations, unsteady trade practices worldwide and competing with other industries for labor prevents new investment in milk plants from keeping up to a frantic pace of growth in milk production.
The organization is asking state and federal legislators to do everything they can to help keep the incentives for dairy plant expansion heading in a positive direction.
ABOUT THE MINNESOTA MILK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION
Minnesota Milk Producers Association is a membership organization representing grassroots dairy farmers through policy work, education and membership development. Our work is vital to the future of Minnesota’s dairy industry and is directed by a board of dairy farmers elected by their peers. For more information, visit www.mnmilk.org.
