State: Dairy Industry Strong Despite Drops In Farm Numbers

State agriculture officials say the dairy industry remains strong despite a continued drop in the numbers of farms. Wisconsin dairy operations have dropped below nine-thousand after the state had 143-thousand farms in 1950. Eighty-nine-hundred-70 herds were milking as of September first, almost 480 fewer than last September. State ag statistician Greg Bussler tells the Wisconsin Ag Connection that low milk prices and higher production costs are the main reasons the state is losing dairy herds — but cow numbers and milk production remain consistent, resulting in continued strength for the industry. Wisconsin expects to set another record for milk production this year, after setting a new mark of 30-point-one-billion pounds in 2016 — and more than one-point-two-eight million head of dairy cattle are being milked, also a record high.