News

WI Farmers Union encourages base excess management for milk supply

A Wisconsin Farmers Union leader urges dairy producers to talk with their cooperative about locally managing the supply of milk. Government Relations Director Kara O’Conner says, “I would encourage anyone who is a member of a cooperative to urge their co-op to look at a base-excess program.”

O’Conner tells Brownfield the cooperative’s milk producer members would be financially better off by working with the processor to manage the milk supply. “Your co-op should not be selling spot loads at prices under Class III, and if your co-op is overshooting the markets that it has, you are losing money as a member of that co-op.”

O’Conner says without a nationwide supply management system in place and without government involvement, establishing a base excess system is a way to help get farmers the top dollar for their milk by more closely matching supply and demand.  Many buyers are working with producers to manage supplies now, but she says more should consider it.