TOUGH YEAR FOR FARMERS
Thursday, August 20th, 2009 -- 10:22 AM
The first half of 2009 is being called the worst experienced by U.S. dairy farmers in several generations.Ed Jesse, a dairy marketing specialist, says producers are squeezed between very low milk prices and very high feed prices.
In nominal prices, the Wisconsin All-Milk price had its lowest half-year average since 2003. But in 2003 the state's corn prices were averaging $2.35 per bushel. So far in 2009, they've been between $3 and $4.
USDA Economic Research Service puts 'Wisconsin's' January-June returns over cash costs averaged negative $2.81 per hundredweight; that?s about $47 per cow per month and a monthly loss of about $4,500 per herd.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.