Dairy cows (AP)
Iowa dairy farmers like Dan Mormann of rural Petersburg say they are losing money because the recession and imports of milk protein concentrate. Mormann says it's getting harder to face a long day's labor knowing he will have lost nearly $900 at its end.
Iowa State Dairy Association president Wayne Dykshorn says the recession has lowered demand for milk and dairy products. He says the drop in demand has created a surplus that has driven down the price paid to farmers for milk.
According to Dykshorn, the surplus has been exacerbated by imports of milk protein concentrate, a milk byproduct used as a food additive, that further shrink demand for domestic milk.
Dykshorn said many dairy farmers have already gone out of business, and more will if prices don't improve.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Iowa State Dairy Association president Wayne Dykshorn says the recession has lowered demand for milk and dairy products. He says the drop in demand has created a surplus that has driven down the price paid to farmers for milk.
According to Dykshorn, the surplus has been exacerbated by imports of milk protein concentrate, a milk byproduct used as a food additive, that further shrink demand for domestic milk.
Dykshorn said many dairy farmers have already gone out of business, and more will if prices don't improve.
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
