In the wake of the current situation in the United States, Wisconsin farmers have had to dump milk. Ryan Elbe, whose family owns Golden E Dairy in West Bend, explains the dumping to be absolutely devastating.
“You can always tell when Dad is on a serious phone call,” Elbe says of his father receiving the news that milk needed to be dumped. “This time his eyes teared up a little bit…just the thought of it.” Elbe says that there’s a lot of pride that goes into producing milk and to be asked to dump it is disheartening. What is even more worrisome is that nobody has any idea how long the dumping will go on for.
Josh Scramlin recently spoke with Elbe about his family’s current situation. To hear their conversation, click the play button below:
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Rose turner says
That’s terrible let them sell it to the public like the old days to survive
Tim says
Government control will damper that. All the health code conditions will hold you back on direct sales. Now I am all for it. But the customers must be regular and responsible. When 8000 gallons are ready every day, or other day, they must be there to get it picked up. That is a lot of people at 1 gallon each.
Gina says
I think some of that problem or atleast it has been in the past, that the milk plants just do not have enough silo room for it. People are not buying milk like they used to, consumption is down across the board. I am a milk hauler myself and this time of year is a killer with cows freshening at a higher rate. If people want this to change drink more milk.
Another problem is milk processing plants are few and far in between. We were trucking our milk well over 300 miles one way to a milk plant, with milk plants a little over a 100 miles away. This all has to do with federal orders and pricing of the milk. Like I said drink more milk folks.
THOMAS AUSTIN says
Thank you for the explanation. I read the entire report and listened to the audio. No one explained “why?”. Time for a refresher course in reporting.
Pam Jahnke says
https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/04/01/why-is-this-happening-milk-dumping-explanation-for-non-farm-consumers/
Ashley says
As a family of 5 i have to buy at least 5 gallons at once, just to get through a week. When i can i buy more and freeze it, in case im unable to get to the store or dont have the $ to buy more later. From a milk loving family to a work hard milk producing farmer!
Nan Diedrick says
It must be poor communication. My daughter called to say Wal Mart where she works was out of milk.
Sandy says
The government wouldn’t want people to buy milk….that would be wrong
Freddie says
A gallon. Ive got six kids and worked on a farm most of my life and im 61 and my family would go through almost 3 gallons a day. Because we separated the cream from the mike to make butter and ice cream. People could use this milk. Ill love it.
Linda says
You would think they would sell it at a farmers market or something like that. Heart breaking
D Logsdon says
Farmers markets are all closed.
Darin Holliday says
They can’t due to the fact that the milk is raw (unpasteurized) and that makes it illegal by law. The farmer could not even give it away to needy families.
Gina says
Federal regulations and health dept regulations block that. It has to be properly processed. I understand what you are saying.
Puck says
Please research milk and the process it goes thru to get from cow to table. No one would buy raw milk.
Jenny says
But the fact is is that many would buy raw milk from properly tested, healthy cows but it is sadly illegal in many states!
C harles Dove says
This is a disgrace to see.people are going hungry and need.the needy and homeless could use this.this is all politics.wheres farm bureau all this.this is disgrace to farmer.
C harles Dove says
But your not telling the reason why your dumping.is it because the plants can’t get it to the stores,or there’s not enough people to do the work in the plants? Why are you being told to dump?
Stephen J Hallahan says
yes or make cheese something that is money and food
Susan Rae says
Cheese is being made, with all the foodservice closed, cheese plants that produce for that industry are sitting with warehouses full of cheese and nowhere to go with it. It’s going to go bad and next thing you know not only will the farmer be out of business, so will the dairy processing plants. They cant just change their equipment and packaging and start producing for retail unless they have millions laying around. Yes, COVID -19 is crushing our economy and the long term effects are much scarier than the disease itself! Hope someone figures out how to make cheese out of almond milk because that’s what we’ll be left with. In the meantime, anyone need a truckload of bulk cheese before it spoils?
Adam W. says
Very wasteful. I mean pets could still use it? Use it for baking only? 165 is pasteurized. Humane society? Or churn into butter. Make into yogurt? I mean there’s a bunch of ways to utilize it.
Scott Hill says
It is sad to hear about the plight of these dairy farmers having to dump their milk. I am not a farmer, but do have family who are farmers, so I do support this industry. I am dismayed that the reason for dumping was not stated during this broadcast.
Scott Hill
Tim says
There are not enough places left to process the milk. Three major milk processors filed bankruptcy in the last 9 months, and with the virus milk can’t be trucked to certain remaining processors. This is what happens when the government gets involved in supplementing the large mega dairies. We now see the results of that effort combined with Walmart buying all the remaining processors and dictating price control.
Lee says
From what I have been reading it is related to COVID-19 this has decreased the demands because of closed schools restraunts etc.
Rita Gardner says
Still drink milk at home so that doesn’t make sense
James says
Unless it is a fear of contamination, It is unnecessary, They could process it into commodity cheese,which they used to give to people that need it.
Pam Jahnke says
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with this milk – but you are missing the very obvious. This milk is in bulk, unprocessed and unpackaged. THAT is the bottleneck. The processor does not have enough employee power to keep everything working full steam right now. Any milk that could be diverted to other plant locations is being diverted. This is a fluid milk challenge.
Jayme says
Where I’m from there is a milk shortage. I have been going through 3 – 4 sometimes 5 gallons a week with my kids home. Normally I would go through 1-2 gallons.
Becky says
Now that makes sense as to why they have to dump it. But, I’d have to find an alternative to just dumping it! Sad so sad…
David says
It’s because of Covid 19, restaurants r closed that usually serve ice cream, milk, yogurts, etc…., no demand for the milk now.
Amy says
But there are so many at home who drink it 🙁
D Logsdon says
https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/04/01/why-is-this-happening-milk-dumping-explanation-for-non-farm-consumers/?fbclid=IwAR0hgK-WRikY395LFa87z4VEUhulrLjBZP0PbxpzQyOPhQ5jqdFWtWN4EBw
Elayne Novotny says
I agree why are they being told to dump the milk? Consumers are still using milk we go through about a gallon a day.
Tom Bradford says
Why are there empty rakes in grocery stores then. No milk ?
Pam Jahnke says
Again, please see my basic explanation farther down the farm news page.
Doug Mayer says
Why aren’t you asking farmers to cull heavy?
Farms are permanently disappearing daily, the cows just keep moving under bigger roofs. Be honest, pushing production records? Farmers use to be happy with 40lbs/day, now farmers push for 140lbs/day!
Sexed seman, another huge kick in the teeth to the industry.
Milk price low?
Milk more cows…
Milk price high?
Milk more cows….
The answer needs to change, it’s not working
Mike says
Amen, I’m a dairy Farmer and support supply and demand provisions. Government shouldn’t help us until we decide to help ourselves! Wake up U.S dairy industry. A kindergartner could figure this out.
Mark Eberts says
Are you a farmer? If not you don’t even have all the details. You are just spouting off. People like you are a big part of the problem
Tom says
Just like the trucking industry CRAZY!
Brends says
Thank you I support my dairy farms
Sue says
Milk has been absent at the shelves in our grocery stores or rationed to customers. That’s crazy to dump it.
Pam Jahnke says
https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/04/02/dfw-president-chad-vincent-breaks-down-current-dairy-situation/
Colleen says
I am just an average citizen hearing about this. I don’t understand why this is happening. Why are farmers being asked to dump milk? Can someone explain it?
Pam Jahnke says
Please see my post trying to answer those questions farther down on the page.
Ruth Sheahan says
Nope, no explanation no matter how far down I scroll.
Pam Jahnke says
Try this: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/04/01/why-is-this-happening-milk-dumping-explanation-for-non-farm-consumers/
Joni says
I hope these farmers will still be compensated for their product. This is most of what they rely on for income. Farmers work twice as much as most people and already take a hit on milk checks. Dumping their entire collection for who knows how long was not their choice. Pretty huge slap in the face to them. I sure hope the government plans to help them during this crisis.
Colleen says
Thank you so much for your explanation. It makes total sense. Our current situation is devastating on so many levels. Thank you for your clear reporting.
Debieve says
Because the milk cannot be sold on time to anyone before it expires 72 hrs on tanker..even if it’s getting close to that experation it can be sold for cheese..but these dairy farmers are being desperately put on a catch 22 position..I am a trucker that hauls milk tanker from the dairies..we are out in TX and pick up in Tx and Kansas ..cows have to be milked everyday. Sadly the farmer is stuck between a rock and a hard spot!
Willadean Jackson says
Schools closed, restaurants closed, don’t need the supply.
William Sperber says
Make the super farmers dump first. They flood the market make them flood the ditches
Pam Jahnke says
The largest dairies ARE the ones that are dumping first. Make you feel better?
Darlene Rhone says
No. Doesn’t matter if they are large or small. The larger ones have even more overhead!
Leah says
No because people dont get it that milk won’t automatically appear on grocery stores without dairy farmers and the milk this is the result of government having farmers by the balls to years dictating milk prices. Prices continue to drop suicide rates increase I get so mad I’ve been on both ends my husband committed suicide over 30 years ago nothing has Chang
Susie says
Why can’t we make more government cheese??
larry says
more cheese plants are closing do to lack of demand as my former work place did at the end of last year. we had been able to process1.9 million per day.
Rob Schoen says
Dumping milk and stores put a limit on how many gallons we can buy. Doesn’t make sense.
Linda Maas says
100% AGREE!
Michelle says
My husband works for a dairy company. And they had trouble getting raw milk. This is a shame and disgrace. Stores should not be limiting any milk purchase. Companies are up and running. Ready to see. Makes me sick to my stomach.
Miranda S. says
This is devastating for farmers. Why not push back to companies that still have purchasing caps on milk? I know larger families who cannot purchase the needed milk outside of taking 3-5 trios to the store a week. This obviously isn’t safe for them or the rest of us. Why not reach out to low income communities and donate milk instead of dumping it?
There are ao many options available instead of dumping. My family farmes for many years & we would help out families in our community when they were struggling. Was it legal, no however the family didn’t go hungry because of us helping out. Now is a time we need to oull together and help in any way possible…. dumping isn’t helping our farmers.
Pam Jahnke says
https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/04/01/why-is-this-happening-milk-dumping-explanation-for-non-farm-consumers/
Todd Hanten says
Is this April fools? Nobody ever said why they are dumping the milk and why are they getting paid for dumping the milk? I am a former dairyman and do not understand this? I think we are missing a whole lot in this story??????
Pam Jahnke says
https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/04/01/why-is-this-happening-milk-dumping-explanation-for-non-farm-consumers/
Brenda Craft says
I still didn’t see the reason why.
Pam Jahnke says
Try this for a few more explanations:
https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/04/01/why-is-this-happening-milk-dumping-explanation-for-non-farm-consumers/
Norb Roffers says
Have the gov buy it all up, make milk product that can be shipped ,
ie cheese etc.and send ot to our allies instead of cash.
Michelle Olyniec says
Can I buy milk from you? I prefer fresh from the farm anyways!! I’ll even bring my own milk jugs!!
Pam Jahnke says
How many million gallons can you handle? Have you seen the pictures of milk being dumped. Now imagine you, with your milk jug, standing behind that flow. Your heart is definitely in the right place, but it would be illegal and impossible to execute.
Gina says
You are correct, I’m a raw milk hauler and like you said. It’s a great idea in theory, but in practicum it doesn’t work that way, and yes that flow coming out of that tank under it’s own steam no pump involved will knock you backwards, not to mention its 36 degrees or lower.
Camilla Naylor says
Well, I don’t know about WI, BUT Down here in TN, We DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MILK!! The Stores have run OUT? Ship it to the SOUTH! We NEED IT IN WEST TENNESSEE!!
larry says
Store shelves not having enough is not due to lack of milk, but lack of processing and packaging capacity. Capacity has dropped over the years as home use and the vegan- vegetarian trend , has reduced consumption. With the current trend to over buy to reduce trips, it can be difficult to gauge demand for a short shelf life product.
Charlie says
The 8:39 interview did not say why the milk is being dumped. That was puzzling. Eventually I found the other written piece which was helpful & informative.
Doug Klein says
Please stop dumping milk and you know people need milk
Pam Jahnke says
This milk is unprocessed and unpackaged and CAN’T be donated. If we could process/package the milk it would be on store shelves for sale.
Terry says
At least they are getting compensated for the milk that they dump.
Pam Jahnke says
Yes but we don’t know at what level.
Sue Ellis says
How about powdered milk for the needy?
Pam Jahnke says
Dryers are full and for Wisconsin dairies those dryers are not geographically close.
David says
That is so sad. I grew up o a farm and we always got milk from the bull tank every morning for breakfast and lunch and got more for supper. We had a special dipping pan to get the cream off the top of the milk before the agitator was turned on. That milk had better taste than the milk that is processed in a plant. Dumping milk is sad but what is sadder is seeing all the small farmers selling out because they can’t compete with mega farms.
Barb says
Can’t believe everything you hear or read anymore.. I’m in Wisconsin and were NOT dumping our milk..
.
Pam Jahnke says
Consider yourself fortunate then. Today Ellsworth Creamery and another quality milk plant in Fond du Lac county all put their dairies on notice that dumping is in their future. I suggest you have a serious conversation with your field representative today or call the decision maker at your dairy plant. Otherwise you too may be surprised with a letter. I surely hope not – but we are far from done with these stories I’m afraid.
Christa says
I dont see any milk processing plants advertising “urgent help needed”
Pam Jahnke says
You’re not looking in the right places.
Gus.Ramirez says
I just don’t understand why you would have to dump something it’s already processed .give-it-away. And look at the common sense of the situation.This just don’t make any sense.
Pam Jahnke says
This milk is NOT processed and it’s not packaged. So it cannot be donated to food banks or any other outlet for use. That’s the bottleneck – the processor that does all that is facing employee supply issues to name just a few.
Jane johns says
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻For all of us in this trying time.
Raven says
I used to work on a dairy farm… why cant the farmers o ahead and just let the caves drink the milk from thier mothers instead of taking the calves away? this would keep from the dumping plus it would ensure a healthy next generation of hefers… we used to take hefers and every 4th calf, let her raise it.. this gave us more of a herd that we personally knew the health of — and in the interm of events, have at least 2 feilds that are left alone so it grows just to the hefers with calves can relax– this had iven us really healthy cows and healthy cows produced more milk when we needed her too
Pam Jahnke says
There are not enough calves in this country to consume the volume milk generated on even TWO of these impacted dairies. Believe me, these farmers are trying to use this milk for their own benefit anywhere they can – but feeding calves isn’t the solution.
Sandra says
Why can’t we go back to allowing us to buy raw milk directly from the farmer like we used to? Stop so many regulations on direct buyers and maybe just allow them to purchase a inexpensive yearly license for direct sales?
Most regulations seem to be aimed at getting money for the state government anyway!
Michael Dalton says
I hope the milk is being discharged into manure lagoons or mixed with waste for anaerobic digesters and not into streams. The biological oxygen demand of milk is sky high and will use all the available oxygen in a stream and kill everything in the stream. Then the remaining milk will become fuel for anaerobic bacteria and they will produce hydrogen sulfide and some other compounds that are toxic and stink. Hydrogen sulfide kills fish in the parts per billion concentration range and will affect the stream for miles. That will compound the tragedy affecting these farmers and is actually very illegal and could result in major fines, which is not something they need now.
Ashley Anderson says
How cam we get the limit on milk purchasing lifted? Familes all across the country are being limited to buying only 1 gallon per shopping trip, thus the store surplus. I know my family drinks way more than a gallon a week, but I’m not going to the store every day for milk due to exposure to CoVid. This is the problem! So sad knowing how much work goes into the production and processing of milk.