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Hoosier dairy producers impacted by Dean Foods

The executive director of the Indiana Dairy Producers (IDP) says some Hoosier farmers are looking for a new home for their milk after Dean Foods ended milk contracts effective May 31.

Doug Leman says he is hopeful producers will be able to find a new market, because demand is still there.

“Just because Dean Foods isn’t buying them out, that demand doesn’t go away,” he says. “I think we’re going to have to do a little bit of the milk shuffle and I hope through that we can solve this problem for most of our producers.”

He tells Brownfield IDP will have a meeting in a few weeks for the dairy producers impacted by the announcement.

“Sometimes just knowing you have somebody else that’s in the same situation you are I think helps,” he says.

More than 100 dairy farmers in eight states were affected. Other states include Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.