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Indiana lost 10 percent of dairy farms in 2018, but Leman sees improvements

Ten percent of Indiana dairy farms closed in 2018 and the total number of dairy farms dropped below 900.

But, Indiana Dairy Producers Executive Director Doug Leman says it’s not a state issue, it’s a general industry issue.  

“It was not just an Indiana problem, it’s that way throughout the Midwest,” he says. “We might have be a little higher that some states and a little lower than some others, but it’s been a challenge throughout the whole Midwest and we’re looking for better times.”

He tells Brownfield despite the challenges he thinks the industry is improving.

“Our vision for Indiana dairy producers is to make Indiana the most desirable state in which to produce milk and that’s what we’re trying to do help our producers,” he says. “We have a lot of good things going for us and we’re looking for that finish line that maybe things can start turning.”

Leman spoke to Brownfield at the 2019 Indiana Dairy Forum.

Audio: Doug Leman, Indiana Dairy Producers