Iowa produces record-breaking 5.4 billion pounds of milk, but people are drinking less

KCCI 8 NEWS AT 6:00. STEVE: FALLING MILK PRICES AND RISING TARIFFS ARE REALLY TAKING THEIR TOLL ON THE U.S. DAIRY INDUSTRY. IN FACT, BORDEN DAIRY FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY JUST THIS WEEK. STACEY: HERE IN IOWA 80 FAMILY DAIRY OPERATIONS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS LAST YEAR. KCCI SENIOR REPORTER TODD MAGEL IS IN AMES TO SHOW US HOW THE DAIRY INDUSTRY IS CHANGING. TODD IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT : ABOUT THE DAIRY INDUSTRY THEN THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE THAN THE ISU DAIRY FARM WHERE 330 COWS ARE MILKED HERE EVERY DAY. IT’S MILKING TIME AT THE ISU DAIRY FARM. >> AS MUCH AS THIS IS AUTOMATED, WE STILL HAVE DAILY CONTACT WITH THEM. TODD COURTNEY SMITH IS IN CHARGE : AND MAKES SURE THESE COWS ARE HAPPY AND PRODUCTIVE. >> SO WHILE ALL OF THIS IS GOING ON, HER BRAIN IS SAYING ALL RIGHT, IT’S TIME TO RELAX. WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. TODD BUT SMITH AND THE OTHER : DAIRY EXPERTS HERE ARE SEEING A CHANGE. THE COWS ARE GIVING MORE MILK THAN EVER, BUT PEOPLE ARE DRINKING LESS MILK THAN EVER. >> YOUNGER PEOPLE OR NEWER PEOPLE GET THOSE NUTRIENTS BUT RATHER THAN FROM A GALLON OF WHITE MILK, THEY GET IT IN A GALLON OF YOGURT. TODD LEO TIMMS IS A RETIRED ISU : DAIRY PROFESSOR AND SPECIALIST. HE SAYS TWO BIG CHANGES ARE AFFECTING THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. NEW TARRIFFS AND DECREASING FOREIGN DEMAND ARE SQUEEZING BIG NATIONAL DAIRIES LIKE BORDEN. >> IT STILL THRIVING, BUT THE VOLUME OF THAT HAS GONE DOWN. TODD AND THOSE DECREASING WORLD : WIDE DEMANDS ARE ALSO MAKING IT HARDER FOR THE 1000 IOWA DAIRY FARMERS TO THRIVE. >> THAT HAS MEANT A LITTLE BIT MORE SURPLUS, WHICH DEPRESSES PRICES WHICH MAKES MARGINS FOR FARMS AND DAIRIES TOUGH THE LAST FOR YEARS AND PEOPLE HAVE MADE SOME DECISIONS. TODD BUT EVEN AS THE NUMBER OF : DAIRY FARMS FALL, IOWA IS STILL PRODUCING 5.4 BILLION GALLONS OF MILK, A RECORD NUMBER. DEPENDING ON TARIFFS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, DAIRY EXPERTS SAY THE INDUSTRY WILL CONTINUE TO THRIVE BUT WILL ALSO CONT

Iowa produces record-breaking 5.4 billion pounds of milk, but people are drinking less

Updated: 11:42 PM CST Jan 9, 2020

Falling milk prices and rising tariffs are taking a toll on the U.S. dairy industry, including Borden Dairy, which filed for bankruptcy this week. Nearly 80 family dairy operations went out of business in Iowa last year. Now, the Iowa State University Dairy Farm is starting to see a change. ISU Dairy Farm operators said the cows are giving more milk than ever, but people are drinking less milk. Approximately 1,000 Iowa dairy farmers are finding it difficult to thrive with the decrease in worldwide demands. However, Iowa is still producing a record-breaking 5.4 billion pounds of milk.

AMES, Iowa —

Falling milk prices and rising tariffs are taking a toll on the U.S. dairy industry, including Borden Dairy, which filed for bankruptcy this week.

Nearly 80 family dairy operations went out of business in Iowa last year. Now, the Iowa State University Dairy Farm is starting to see a change.

ISU Dairy Farm operators said the cows are giving more milk than ever, but people are drinking less milk.

Approximately 1,000 Iowa dairy farmers are finding it difficult to thrive with the decrease in worldwide demands.

However, Iowa is still producing a record-breaking 5.4 billion pounds of milk.