Over 70 Wisconsin dairy operations are already feeling the blow from a protectionist Canadian trade policy that has slammed the door on American dairy exports, violated existing trade commitments, and left farmers across the state scrambling to find milk buyers.
Grassland Dairy Products Inc. informed over 70 operations this week that their contracts with the company will end May 1st, leaving affected farmers without buyers and at risk of losing their operations. The company cited a substantial loss of ultra-filtered milk exports following new Canadian dairy pricing regulations as the reason behind the broken contracts.
Wisconsin Secretary of Agriculture Ben Brancel talks about the impact of the action in this interview: Interview with WI Secretary of Ag Ben Brancel