"We need you to start dumping your milk," said his contact from Dairy Farmers of America , the largest U.S. dairy cooperative.Despite strong demand for basic foods like dairy products amid the coronavirus pandemic, the milk supply chain has seen a host of disruptions that are preventing dairy farmers from getting their products to market.
"It's just gut-wrenching," said Leedle, 36, as he stood inside his barn, with cows lowing softly as the animals were giving milk that would be funneled directly into a manure pit."All I can see is that line going down the drain." "Now is the time to consider a little extra culling of your herds," the cooperative said in a March 17 letter to members."We believe the ability to pick up and process your milk could be compromised."
Dean Foods Co, which has been starting some plant shifts earlier and running later, is offering US$1,000 sign-on bonuses for drivers with dairy experience as it struggles to fill 74 open positions, a company spokeswoman said. Schreiber Foods Inc, one of the country’s top dairy product manufacturers and food distributors, is cutting hours for workers at its dairy processing plants that normally supply the restaurant industry and adding staff to plants that stock the U.S. retail market, said spokesman Andrew Tobisch.“We’ve almost had too many trucks showing up at some of our plants,” Tobisch said. “The deliveries get backlogged and the drivers are having to wait longer and longer.