Dairy farmers are feeling the effects of the pandemic as the need for dairy products has decreased across the country.
Experts say with the closing of schools and restaurants across the nation, Wisconsin’s cheese industry has lost a significant amount of its market. Some dairy farmers have had to dump milk.
"Unfortunately, some farms in the state just had a situation where their processor couldn't find a place to take the milk. We've had some plants, cheese plants in the state, slow down production they've lost sales. They've lost the market,” said John Umhoefer, Executive Director of Cheese Makers Association. "Hopefully, there's some support through to USDA to buy some of this product that we're not getting to the end market. Hopefully, consumers see that there's an opportunity to participate in the food chain and take an extra gallon of milk home or an extra block of cheese and we'll work through it."
Farmers in northeast Wisconsin said they haven't heard of anyone in our area having to dump milk. Some are hoping the government will purchase dairy products and give them to places like food banks and school lunch programs.
