Bird flu cases in dairy cattle yet to affect milk prices
By Farms.com
The U.S. dairy industry has shown remarkable resilience in the face of bird flu cases reported in dairy cattle since late March.
According to industry experts and the latest USDA data, the overall milk production and market prices have not been adversely affected, maintaining a steady course over the past four months.
Chuck Nicholson from the University of Wisconsin-Madison highlights the current stability but acknowledges the uncertain future. "The future can be quite uncertain with any kind of epidemiological situation that we have going on," he cautioned, suggesting that significant impacts could still arise depending on how the virus spreads.
Currently, 160 dairy herds in 13 states have reported cases of bird flu, a small fraction of the 24,094 dairy farms in the nation. While individual farmers have faced challenges, the broader market has remained unaffected.
The typical protocol involves withholding milk from the market during the cows' recovery period, which can affect production but has yet to influence prices significantly.
As of the latest reports, the industry price of milk is $22 per 100 pounds. Should the bird flu spread more extensively, it could potentially impact these figures, but as of now, no drastic changes have been observed.
Additional preventive measures have been implemented in states with higher risks, and the USDA has offered financial assistance similar to crop insurance for affected farmers, covering 90% of the value of the lost milk.
The dairy industry's proactive approach to maintaining consumer confidence and ensuring the safety of milk products has been crucial.
Despite decreasing trends in beverage milk consumption, the overall demand for dairy products remains on a growth trajectory, bolstered by increasing interest in products like cheese.