September 8, 2004

US Dairy Farmers Receive Lower Milk Prices

US Wisconsin dairy manufacturing plants paid an average price of $16.30 per hundredweight to Wisconsin producers for their July milk, which is lower than the $18.30 paid-out a month earlier.

The state's agriculture department estimated the August price to drop 50 cents to $15.80 per cwt. Dairy producers were paid $14.20 per cwt. in August 2003, a deficit of $1.60 as compared to this year. The record high milk price in Wisconsin for August was $16.34 per cwt. in 1999.

Meanwhile, the August U.S. milk price is expected to be $15.00 per cwt, 80 cents below Wisconsin's anticipated average. All states forecasted a decrease in price from last month, with Idaho producers expecting the lowest price of $13.20 and California farmers anticipating $13.30 per cwt. Florida producers may receive $18.80 per cwt, the highest in the nation.