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Friday, 29 March 2024

COVID-19 is having a significant impact on Idaho's dairy industry

Credit: Idaho On Your Side
Duration: 02:43s 0 shares 1 views

COVID-19 is having a significant impact on Idaho's dairy industry
COVID-19 is having a significant impact on Idaho's dairy industry

The coronavirus is impacting businesses all over the country, and Idaho is no exception.

TO GOOD MORNINGIDAHO, WITH NEWS,TRAFFIC, ANDWEATHER ON THE6S."GOOD MORNINGEVERYONE ... ANDWELCOME TO GOODMORNING IDAHO.I'M MATT SIZEMORETHE CORONAVIRUSIS IMPACTINGBUSINESSES ALLOVER THECOUNTRY... ANDIDAHO IS NOEXCEPTION.AS RESTAURANTS..SCHOOLS..

ANDOTHER BUSINESSESIN THE GEM STATECLOSE..

SIX ON YOURSIDE'S NATASHAWILLIAMS FOUND THESTATE'S MILKINDUSTRY..

IS ALSODRYING UP.IDAHO IS HOME TO AMASSIVE DAIRYINDUSTRY--IT'S THEFOURTH LARGESTMILK PRODUCINGSTATE IN THE ENTIRECOUNTRY.BUT BETWEENDEMAND FOR DAIRYTANKING BECAUSEOF MAJORCONSUMERSCLOSING THEIRDOORS..."IT WENT FROM AVERY OPTIMISTICYEAR TO VERYPESSIMISTIC IN AMATTER OF DAYS."AND THE PRICES THEDAIRIES ARE PAIDFOR THEIR MILK..."WE'RE NOW SEEINGMILK PRICEBASICALLY THEEQUIVALENT TOWHAT WE HADDURING THE 2009RECESSION."DAIRYMEN AREFINDING IT HARD TOBREAK EVEN."YOU KNOW THATTHAT'S WHAT YOURELY ON DAY TO DAY.THAT'S WHAT I TAKECARE OF MY ANIMALSWITH, THAT'S WHAT IPAY MY EMPLOYEESWITH.

THAT'S WHAT ITAKE CARE OF MYFAMILY WITH."DAIRIES ARE PAID BYWEIGHT... NOTGALLONS.THE SELLING PRICEPER HUNDREDPOUNDS OF MILK...OR HUNDREDWEIGHT... IS A THIRDLESS THAN WHAT ITCOSTS TO PRODUCEIT."THE COST TOPRODUCE MILK ISABOUT 16 DOLLARS AHUNDREDWEIGHT,AND WHERE MILKPRICES ARECURRENTLYSETTLING, BASED ONTHE VALUE OFCHEESE AND BUTTERAND POWDER,THERE'S ABOUT 11DOLLARS AHUNDREDWEIGHT.COWS PRODUCE MILKAND ARE MILKEDDAILY--WHICH LEAVESDAIRY PRODUCERSWITH NO CHOICE BUTTO DUMP THEEXCESS MILK DOWNTHE DRAIN."TOO MUCH SUPPLYAND NOT ENOUGHDEMAND--ESPECIALLYWITH THE COVIDRIGHTNOW--RESTAURANTSARE SHUT DOWN.

SO,WITH RESTAURANTSBEING OUT ANDSCHOOLS BEINGSHUT DOWN, THEY'REJUST SAYING THERE'SNOWHERE TO GOWITH OUR PRODUCTRIGHT NOW."IT'S A TOUGH PILL TOSWALLOW.

IT'S HARDTO WATCH."THE IDAHODAIRYMEN'SASSOCIATION ISENCOURAGING THEUSDA TO BUY SOMEOF THAT EXCESSMILK...AND DONATE ITTO FOOD PANTRIES...SO IT DOESN'T GO TOWASTE."WE'RE TRYING TO DOWHAT WE CAN AS ANINDUSTRY WITH THEUSDA'S HELP TO TRYTO HELP TO SUPPORTTHOSE FOODBANKSAND TO PROVIDEDAIRY PRODUCTSTHERE.

IT SOLVESTWO PROBLEMS: ONEIT TAKES THATEXCESS MILK OFFTHE MARKET, ANDTWO IT'S GOING TOPROVIDE GREATNUTRITION FORFAMILIES THAT ARE INNEED RIGHT NOW."BUT THROUGH THEHARDSHIP... DAIRYPRODUCERS SAYTHEY'LL KEEPMOVING FORWARDTHE BEST THEY CAN."JUST KEEP GOING.

IMEAN, WE'VE BEENTHROUGH TOUGHTIMES.

DAIRYING HASBEEN UP AND DOWNFOR THE LASTTHREE, FOUR YEARS.JUST GOT TO KEEPFIGHTING."NATASHA WILLIAMS...SIX ON YOUR SIDE

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